2.^— £ 


LIBRARY 

OF   THE 

Theological   Seminary, 

PRINCETON,    N.  J. 

Case, ^2~~^*~^.. 

Shelf. 


Book, 


Section./ 

vLMo 


f- 


&4L<£>     W<4~*^9 


Z 


*-* 


^K 


< 


»« 


■^♦vV 


CALVARY; 


OR, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST 


POEM 


IN 


EIGHT  BOOKS, 


BY  RICHARD  CUMBERLAND. 


THIRD  AMERICAN  EDITION. 


MORIUS-TOWN: 

PBIN'TED  BY   HENRY  P.  RU8SEIX. 


X  VW-W  WVVW  WV 


1815. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2011  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/calvarycu 


LYARY? 


OR, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST. 


BOOK  I 


ARGU31ENT  OF    THE    FIRST    BOOK. 


After  a  short  introduction,  which  states  the  miraculous  acts  of  Christ,  and 
serves  to  mark  the  period  at  which  the  Poem  commences,  Satan  goes 
forth  by  night  into  the  wilderness,  and  finds  himself  in  the  very  spot 
where  he  had  in  vain  practised  his  temptations  upon  Christ :  Here  he 
falls  into  meditation  upon  that  unsuccessful  interview,  and  vents  him- 
self in  soliloquy  :  Indignant  under  disappointment,  and  impatient  to  re- 
pair his  defeat,  he  ascends  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  from  whence 
he  had  exhibited  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth,  and  calls  the  Devils  from 
all  parts  of  the  Heathen  world  :  The  whole  host  of  Infernals  assembled 
at  his  summons  :  The  chief  leaders  are  enumerated,  their  persons  and 
attributes  described  :  Satan  addresses  them,  and  proposes  the  subject 
matter  for  their  consultation,  namely,  By  what  means  to  counteract  the 
power  of  Christ  upon  earth  :  Baal  delivers  his  sentiments  by  stating 
difficulties  and  objections,  without  any  decided  opinion,  unless  for  se- 
duction in  the  general  :  Moloch  angrily  resents  what  he  considers  as 
pointed  at  himself,  and  speaks  disdainfully  against  the  proposal  of  se- 
duction, as  not  only  desperate,  but  disgraceful  :  Belial  replies,  and, 
after  much  circumlocution,  suggests  a  temptation  to  be  set  on  foot  by 
Mammon :  He  is  interrupted  by  Satan,  who  reproves  him  for  certain 
digressions  in  his  speech,  but  adopts  his  hint  of  employing  Mammon, 
and  calls  upon  that  evil  spirit  to  attempt  the  fidelity  of  Judas  Iscariot, 
whom  he  points  out  to  him  as  the  only  one  of  the  disciples  open  to  se- 
duction :  Mammon  at  first  affects  to  excuse  himself  from  the  under- 
taking, but  in  conclusion  accepts  it,  and,  taking  wing  in  presence  of 
the  whole  applauding  host,  sets  out  upon  his  embassy,  directing  his 
course  to  the  city  of  Jerusalem. 


CALVARY,  &c. 


BOOK  L 


THE  ASSEMBLING  OF  THE  DEVILS. 

IxAIL,  awful  Calvary!  forsaking  now 
Aonian  haunts  and  the  unhallow'd  Nine, 
I  visit  thy  sad  mount,  and  thence  invite 
Tiie  mournful  echoes  to  my  deep-ton'd  harp. 
Hymning  the  whilst,  in  solemn  numbers,  praise 
To  God  for  mercies  purchas-d  by  the  death 
Of  that  mysterious  Being,  virgin-born, 
Saviour  of  lost  mankind,  who  on  the  cross, 
Lord  though  he  be  of  life,  and  one  with  God, 
In  mortal  pangs  expir'd  ;  there  to  atone         10 
For  a  degenerate  world,  by  his  pure  blood 
To  wash  original  corruption  out, 
And,  rising  victor  from  the  grave,  dispel 
Sin  and  its  offspring  Heath,  with  all  the  train 
Of  idol  gods,  usurping  earth  and  heav'n. 

Now  had  the  wond'rous  acts  by  Jesus  wrought 
Spread  wide  his  fame  thro'  all  Judea's  realm  ; 
The  leper  cleans'd,  the  blind  to  sight  restorrd, 
The  sick  to  health,  and  even  the  dead  to  life, 
Tho*  warned  to  silence,  (for  his  modest  ear    SO 

A  2 


6  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  i. 

Sought  not  the  praise  of  men)  so  much  the  more 
Published  liis  mercies  ;  demons  at  his  call 
With  horrid  shrieks,  that  testified  his  power, 
Came  forth  from  men  possest,  and  fled;  his  voice 
Eebuk'd  the  seas  and  winds ;  vast  was  the  throng- 
That  follow'd  where  he  led,  and  thousands  found 
In  the  waste  wilderness  mirac'lous  food : 
They  saw,  they  marvell'd,  and  of  force  confest 
Messias  in  his  power,  not  so  in  form  ; 
For  there  no  comeliness,  no  outward  grace,  30 
No  princely  state  appear'd  :  Slow  to  renounce 
Illusions  long  indulg'd,  their  wavering  minds 
'Twixt  two  opinions  halted,  while  in  place 
Of  these  bright  visions  they  beheld  a  man 
Lowly  and  meek,  a  houseless  wanderer. 
That  had  not  where  on  earth  to  lay  his  head  : — 
Such  can  our  Israel's  great  Restorer  be, 
Such  our  Messias  ? — Thus  their  troubled  tho'ts 
Like  meeting  currents  clash'd;  when  as  he  spake 
Truth  flow'd  resistless  from  his  lips,  his  eyes    40 
Beain-d  mercy,  and  his  Father's  glory  shone 
Effulgent  in  his  face  ;  then  every  tongue 
Was  hush'd  to  silence,  every  doubt  dispcli'd, 
And  every  heart  confest  him  Lord  and  Christ. 
'Twas  night,  when  Satan,  prince  of  darkness 
call'd, 
(And  fitly  call'd,  for  evil  hates  the  day,) 
Walked  forth  on  hellish  meditation  bent, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  7 

Prowling  the  wilderness  :  Where'er  he  trode 
Earth  quak'd  beneath  his  foot ;  before  him    50 

roll'd 
Thick  cloud  and  vapour,  making   night's   dark 

shade 
More  black  and  terrible  ;  the  beasts  of  prey, 
Every  wild  thing  that  roams  the  savage  waste 
And  howling  to  the  moon  demands  its  food, 
Fled  his  approach  ;  the  lion  and  the  pard 
Scented  the  blast  and  slunk  into  their  dens  ; 
For  whilst  his  breast  with  raging  passions  boil'd 
Hatred,  revenge  and  blasphemous  despite, 
The  sighs  lie  vented  from  the  hell  within 
Breath' d  death  into  the  air  ;  his  haggard  eyes, 
Which  still  in  speechless  agonies  he  roll*d,     60 
Out-glar'd  the  hyaena's  ;  other  lires  than  theirs 
To  light  his  dismal  path  he  needed  none. 

Kow,  having  stretch'd  athwart  the  sandy  wild 
Clear  to  its  rocky  verge,  the  arch-fiend  paus'd. 
And  upward  cast  his  eye,  if  haply  there 
Darkling  he  might  discern  what  saucy  mound 
Dar'd  to  arrest  his  course  ;  for  yet  there  dwelt 
Such  vigor  in  his  wing,  nor  depth,  nor  height, 
Mountains  nor  seas  might  check  his  bold  career, 
Where  he  so  purpos'd  ;  neither  would  he  deign 
To  ask  one  charitable  star  for  light, 
Thoughtful  of  former  glory,  when  he  sol;: 
Son  of  the  morning  far  above  their  sphere-. 


8  CALVARY;    OB,  [book  i. 

Whereat,  lie  'gain  put  forth  his  plumed  vans 
From  either  shoulder  stretch'd  for  flight,  when 

soon 
The  fuel'd  clouds  to  fierce  encounter  rush'd  ; 
Loud  thunders  bellow'd,and  the  lightning's  flash 
Smote  on  the  craggy  cliff;  at  sight  whereof, 
Conscious  that  now  he  press:d  the  fatal  spot, 
Where  late  he  commun'd  with  the  Son  of    SO 

God, 
Who  for  the  space  of  forty  days  and  nights 
Foil'd  every  vain  device,  with  shame  abash'd 
And  pondering  in  his  mind  his  foul  defeat, 
Down,  down  at  once  his  flagging  pinions  fell 
Close  cow'ringto  his  ribs  :  As  some  proud  ship 
Between  the  tropics  o'er  the  atlantic  wave 
Speeding  amain  to  reach  her  destin'd  port, 
If  chance  the  experienc'd  mariner  espies 
The  gathering  hurricane,  no  stay,  no  stop, 
Quick  to  the  yard  each  swelling  sail  is  furl'd,  90 
The    curl'd  waves  whitening   as    the    torrent 

drives, 
And  soon  her  taunt  and  lofty  top-mast  lower'd, 
Strikes  to  the  gale  ;  so  he  his  towering  height. 
That  to  angelic  stature  now  had  swell'd, 
Shrunk  into  human  size,  nor  other  seem'd 
Than  pilgrim  squalid,  and  with  years  and  toil 
Bending  decrepit,  when  from  his  full  heart 
Words,  intermixt  with  groans,  thus  forc'd  their 

way  :— 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  9 

"  Yes,  hateful  wilderness,  detested  rocks, 
Whom  I  would  curse,  had  Nature  left  one  blade 
On  your  bare  ribs,  which  cursing  I  might  blast, 
Full  well  I  know  you  ;  deep,  too  deep  engrav'd 
On  mem'ry's  tablet  your  rude  horrors  live. 
And  you,  officious  lightnings,  hide  your  fires  ! 
Come,  Night,  again  ;  let  central  darkness  shroud 
Scenes,  whose  tormenting  recollection  stabs 
My  unavenged  soul.     Can  I  forget 
This  Son  of  Joseph  ?  Son  of  God  henceforth 
Of  force  I  must  confess  him  ;  for  what  less 
Than  godlike  constancy  could  have  with-      liO 

stood 
Temptations  great  and  terrible  as  mine  ? 
Something  which  man  is  not,  he  needs  must  be  ; 
Virtue,  that  angels  boast  not,  he  must  have, 
Else  had  my'snares  inclosed  him. ..else  the  world. 
Which  then  was  mine  to  give,  had  been  a  bribe 
Too  glorious  not  to  dazzle  every  eye 
But  his,  who  made  those  glories  what  they  are. 
Still  I  must  doubt  the  Father's  love  sincere, 
Tho'  loudly  vouch'd  by  his    own   voice  from 

heav'n  : 
Is  this  a  father's  love,  is  this  his  care,  120 

Here  to  expose  him  to  this  desart  wild 
Forty  long  sleepless  nights  and  fasting  days, 
No  angel-guard  about  him,  lost,  forlorn, 
Abandon'd  to  the  elements,  to  beasts 

B 


10  CALVARY;    OK,  [book  i. 

More  fierce  than  this  loud  storm  ;  nay,  fiercer 

still, 
To  me  than  all  more  terrible,  to  me, 
Foe  of  his  life,  inveterate  and  avow'd  ? 
Rare  sample  of  God's  love  !  If  here  his  Christ 
Fncounter'd  aught  of  danger  ;  and  if  none, 
"What  else  could  prompt  him  to  this  vain  display 
Of  voluntary  penance,  but  the  love 
Of  flattery  and  a  despicable  wish 
To  hear  himself  applauded  ?  In  this  spot, 
Beneath  the  jutting  roof  of  this  rude  cliff, 
I  first  surpris'd  this  wand'ring  Son  of  God, 
This  Saviour  of  the  world  :  Fainting  he  seem'd 
With  thirst  and  hunger,  pale  as  death  his  cheek, 
His  hollow  eyes  deep  sunk,  and  from  his  brow 
Big  drops  of  sweat  distill'd,  as  one  overspent 
And  sinking  to  the  earth,  there  to  expire  :   140 
A  ready  tale  he  had  for  pity's  ear, 
A  melancholy  list  of  wants  and  woes  ; 
He  had  not  tasted  food,  and  fairly  own'd 
That  nature's  cravings  were  intense  :  when  I. 
Glad  at  the  heart  to  find  him  thus  besieg'd 
With  appetite  so  eager,  stooping  down, 
From  the  dissever'd  fragments,  that  here  lie 
About  the  base  of  this  storm-beating  rock, 
Chose  out  a  few  smooth  stones,  and  tempting 

said, 
If  thou  art  hungry,  eat :  convert  tllfese  stone.*. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHEIST.  i  i 

If  tliou  art  God's  own  Son,  to  bread,  and  eat ! 
But  he,  not  so  beguil'd,  spurn'd  them  away, 
And  silenc'd  me  with  text  of  holy  writ. 
A  nobler  appetite  I  next  assail'd — 
Ambition  ;  to  the  mountain's  top  we  soar'd  ; 
I  spread  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth  in  sight, 
Fit  sight  to  whet  the  hunger  of  the  mind  ; 
But  mind  and  body  he  alike  would  starve, 
Nor  thank  nor  homage  render  back  for  food 
Of  my  providing.  One  last  hope  remained  ;  160 
Methonght  there  was  a  godly  pride  about  him, 
"Which  with  right  holy  flattery  I  might  win  : 
Upon  the  temple's  topmost  pinnacle 
I  plac'd  this  scorner  of  an  earthly  crown, 
And  bade  him  be  a  God.     Cast  thyself  down. 
Behold,  quoth  I,  the  angels  are  on  wing 
To  bear  thee  up  unhurt.     With  stern  rebuke, 
"  Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan  !"  he  reply 'd  : 
Some  power  unseen  control'd  me,  down  I  fell, 
Down  from  the  giddy  eminence  I  plung'd,     170 
And  left  him  to  his  angels,  whilst  their  hymns 
And  hallelujahs  echo'd  through  the  air 
His  triumphs  and  my  second  fall  from  he av'n. 
And  now  if  dark  despair  shall  reach  this  heart, 
Which  of  hell's  tetrarch's  can  arraign  their  king, 
Or  fix  on  me  his  share  of  public  loss 
And  overthrow  sustain'd  in  this  attack  ? 
None,  for  none  dare.     If  I,  till  now  supreme. 


IS  CALVARY;    OB,  [book  i. 

Great  idol  of  the  Gentile  world,  for  whom 
80  many  groves,  so  many  altars  blaze  ;         180 
If  I,  to  whom  by  various  names  ador'd 
Thousands  of  temples  rise,  whilst  one  alone, 
One  solitary  pile  on  Sion's  hill 
Echoes  the  praise  of  God,  neglected  else 
Of  all ;  if  I,  if  Satan  must  submit 
To  Christ,  revenge  to  patience,  war  to  peace. 
And  men  must  learn  new  maxims  of  forgiveness, 
Maxims  I  neither  practice  nor  instil, 
Heroes  and  kings  and  eonquerors,  farewel ! 
Greater  is  he  who  serves  than  he  who  reigns.  190 
To  suffer,  to  submit,  to  turn  the  eheek 
To  the  proud  s miter,  these  are  virtues  now  ; 
Hence  with  such  virtues  !  If  these  rules  obtain, 
If  this  tame  doctrine  shall  unman  the  world, 
Altars  and  groves  and  temples  all  must  sink  ; 
Olympus  and  its  synod,  every  Grace 
And  every  Muse,  all  that  the  chissel  wrought 
In  Greece  or  Rome,  shall  moulder  into  dust, 
And  Christ  and  Reason  shall  usurp  the  world.'* 
He  ceas'd,  and  now  his  swelling  bosom  heav'd 
With  indignation  like  the  lab' ring  earth, 
Which  subterranean  vapors  undermine, 
Pent  in  its  sulph'rous  entrails  :  Up  he  sprung 
To  that  high  mountain-top  whence  he  review'd 
The  kingdoms  of  the  earth,  whilst  at  his  side 
Christ's  humble  virtue  stood,  on  other  realms, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  18 

Realms  of  immortal  happiness  intent : 
Here,  as  a  vulture  on  the  craggy  peak 
Of  Caucasus  or  Hsemus  left  to  watch, 
Screams  out  his  shrill  alarm,  at  sound  whereof 
The  carrion  troop,  upon  the  wing  for  prey, 
Come  flocking  to  the  signal,  Satan  thus 
Stood  eminent,  and  call'd  his  dark  compeers ; 
So  loud  he  call'd  that  to  the  farthest  bounds 
Of  Pagan  isle  or  continent  was  heard 
His  voiee  re-echoing  thro'  the  vault  of  heaven : 

"  Heroes  and  demi-gods,  Olympian  powers, 
Infernal  princes  of  hell's  dark  abyss, 
Heav'n's  exiles,  spirits  of  air,  water,  fire, 
Or  whatsoever  element  confines  £20 

Your  incorporeal  essences,  Oh  hear  ! 
Hear  and  assemble  !  'tis  your  leader  calls  ; 
It  is  your  champion's  voice,  in  happier  hours 
Heard  and  obey'd,  now  in  extremest  need, 
Be  present  and  assist  our  great  divan." 

JNTo  more ;  for  soon  was  heard  the  distant  soun<) 
Of  wings  that  beat  the  air  ;  from  every  point 
Of  the  four  winds  the  gathering  swarm  came  on ; 
From  Crete,  from  Cyprus,  and  the  Ionian  coast, 
From  Egypt,  Afric,  and  the  Ausonian  shores,  230 
Gods  of  all  names,  dimensions  and  degrees. 
Great  was  their  sovereign's  triumph  to  behold 
This  prompt  obedience  to  his  high  command ; 
For  now,  descending  on  the  desart  heath 


14  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  i. 

To  martial  music,  the  infernal  host, 
In  bands  and  columns,  by  their  chiefs  arranged, 
Stood  firm  ;  if  ever  gleam  of  joy  might  reach 
Heart  so  accurs'd,  th'  arch-fiend  had  felt  it  here, 
As  with  a  monarch's  eye  he  now  review'd 
His  armies,  covering  all  the  swarthy  plain.  240 
Come, Muse,  and  to  your  suppliant's  eyes  impart 
One  ray  of  that  pure  light,  which  late  you  pour'd 
On  the  dark  orbs  of  your  immortal  Bard 
Eclips'd  by  drop  serene.     Conduct  me  now, 
Me  from  my  better  days  of  bold  emprise 
Far  in  decline,  and  with  the  hoary  hand 
Of  Time  hard  stricken,  yet  adventuring  forth 
O'er  Nature's  limits  into  worlds  unseen, 
Peopled  with  shadowy  forms  and  phantoms  dire: 
Oh  \  bear  me  on  your  pinions  in  this  void,  250 
Where  weary  foot  ne'er  rested  ;  and  behold  ! 
All  hell  bursts  forth :  Support  me,  or  I  sink. 
Now  glimm'ring  twilight  streak-d  the   East- 
ern sky, 
For  he,  that  on  his  forehead  brings  the  morn, 
Star-crown'd  Phosphorus  had  heard  the  call, 
And  with  the  foremost  stood.     Beside  him  one 
Of  towering  stature  and  majestic  port, 
Himself  a  host ;  his  black  and  curling  locks 
Down  his  herculean  shoulders  copious  flow'd  ; 
In  glittering  brass  upon  his  shield  he  bore  260 
A  kingly  eagle,  ensign  of  command, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHE  1ST.  15 

Baal  his  name,  second  to  none  in  state 
Save  only  his  great  chieftain,  worshipp'd  long 
In  Babylon,  till  Daniel  drove  him  thence 
With  all  his  glutt'nous  priests  ;  exalted  since 
High  above  all  the  idol  gods  of  Greece, 
Thron'd  on  Olympus,  and  his  impious  hand 
Arm'd  with  the  thunder  ;  yet  lie  ru'd  the  zeal 
Of  furious  Jehu,  and  that  mournful  day, 
"When  he  beheld  his  altars  stream  with  blood,  270 
His  prophets  and  his  priests  by  hundreds  slain 
Upon  Mount  Carmel.     Moloch  in  the  van, 
Mail'd  at  all  points  for  war,  with  spear  and  helm 
And  plumed  crest  and  garments  roll'd  in  blood, 
Flam'd  like  a  meteor  :  Him  with  horrid  joy 
Satan  awhile  survey'd,  then  sighing  cried, 
"  Oh  !  worthy  of  command,  had  all  like  thee 
So  bravely  fought,  heav'n  never  had  been  lost." 
Thence  as  he  glanc'd  his  eye,  far  other  form 
And  much  unfit  for  war  he  next  espied,        280 
Chemos,  the  sin  of  Moab  ;  power  obscene, 
Emasculate  and  soft,  in  loose  attire 
A  sensual  deity  ;  his  glory  'twas 
In  arts  of  base  seduction  to  excel, 
And,  leagu'd  with  harlots,  to  have  turn'd  the  heart 
Of  that  wise  king,  and  drawn  him  from  his  God 
To  bend  his  aged  knees  at  idol  shrines. 
Close  at  his  side  stood  one,  in  whose   soft  eye- 
Ensnaring  smiles  and  beauteous  ruin  lurk'd  : 


15  CALYARY;    OR,  [book  i. 

Oh  !  that  such  grace  should  be  allied  to  sin  ;  290 
Zidonian  goddess,  Ashtoreth  her  name  ; 
Heav'n  would  not  quite  destroy  so  fair  a  work, 
But  wantonness  usurp'd  an  angel's  face, 
And  with  her  innocence  had  chang'd  her  sex. 
Yet  let  that  sex  beware,  for  in  their  souls, 
When  once  she  enters,  peace  no  longer  dwells  ; 
Witness  that  Magdalen,  whose  frantic  hreast, 
Till  by  Christ's  mercy  heal'd,sev'n  demons  rent, 
All  sin-begotten,  all  her  brood  accurst. 
But  Satan,  whose  stern  heart,  stranger  to  love, 
All  weakness  tho'  in  shape  of  sin  disdain'd, 
And  onlypriz'd  spirits  more  like  himself, 
Indignant  turn'd  aside,  and  bent  his  eye 
Where  Dagon,  giant  god,  amidst  the  ranks, 
Like  Teneriff  or  iEtna,  proudly  tower' d : 
Dagon,  of  Gath  and  Askelon  the  boast, 
In  that  sad  flight,  when  on  Gilboa's  mount 
The  shield  of  Saul  was  vilely  thrown  away, 
And  Israel's  beauty  perish' d  :  Him  awhile, 
With  scowlingeye,  th' infernal  king  survey'd,  310 
Then  taunting  cried,  "  O  Dagon,  vast  in  size, 
In  soul  diminutive,  had  that  huge  mass 
Yalour  proportionate,  heav'n  had  been  ours  ; 
But  fitter  thou,  dull  spirit,  to  people  hell 
Than  re-assault  God's  throne.    Where  was  thy 

pride, 
When  overthrown  in  Gaza  by  the  strength 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  17 

Of  that  uxorious  Danite  ?  Humbled  now 

I  know  thy  nightly  haunts,  and  how  thou  driv'st 

Wretches  possest  to  hide  themselves  in  tombs, 

Whence  I  beheld  thee  'midst  the  herd  unclean 

Scour  down  the  steep  and  plunge  into  the  sea." 

But  now  a  fairer  form  arrests  the  eye 

Of  hell's  despotic  lord ;  his  radiant  vest 

Of  Tyrian  purple,  studded  thick  with  gems, 

Flow'd  graceful :  He  for  courts  was  form'd...for 

feasts, 
For  ladies'  chambers,  and  for  am'rous  sports  ; 
Helov'd  not  camps,  nor  the  rude  toils  of  war; 
Belial  his  name  ;  around  his  temples  twin'd 
A  wreath  of  roses,  and,  where'er  he  pass'd, 
His  garments  fann'd  a  breeze  of  rich  perfume  : 
No  ear  had  he  for  the  shrill-ton'd  trump — 
Him  the  soft  warble  of  the  Lydian  flute 
Delighted  rather,  the  love-soothing  harp, 
Sappho's  loose  song,  and  the  Aonian  maids 
And  zoneless  graces  floating  in  the  dance  ; 
Yet  from  his  lips  sweet  eloquence  distill'd, 
As  honey  from  the  bee  ;  but  still  his  voice 
Ne'er  counsell'd  ought  but  cunning  and  deceit, 
Mean  truce  and  base  capitulating  terms  ; 
Therefore  by  Satan  held  in  slight  account,  340 
For  devils  boast  a  dignity  in  sin. 
Last  in  the  field,  and  from  the  rest  apart, 
Was  Mammov  !  Cautious  was  his  step  and  slow, 

C 


18  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  i. 

His  eye  still  watchful  to  prevent  surprise, 
Squalid  his  vesture  and  his  locks  uncomb'd  : 
For  gain  and  usury  engross'd  his  soul; 
Nor  other  care  had  he  but  to  amass 
Wealth  unenjoy'd,  and  gloat  upon  his  hoard  : 
Had  there  been  only  happiness  in  heav'n 
And  gold  in  hell,  Mammon  had  spurn'd  the  bliss, 
And  hugg'd  the  treasure  cheaply   earn'd  with 
pain. 
His  princes  thus  review'd,  from  the   hill-top 
Satan  swift-glancing  flew,  and  in  the  midst 
Rose  like  a  meteor  ;  whereat  all  the  host 
Sent  up  a  general  shout :  he  with  his  hand 
Give  sign,    and  whecl'd  the    Stygian  phalanx 

round  ; 
Horrible  sight  \  A  theatre  of  fiends, 
And  each  the  foe  of  man  ;  idols  and  imps, 
Wizards,  familiars,  sprites,  phantasmas,  dreams. 
Sorrows  and  pains  and  deaths  in  every  shape  360 
Cover'd  the  blasted  heath.     Th'  infernal  king, 
Tho'  in  his  heart  by  mut'nous  passions  torn, 
Thought  clashed  with  thought,    and  all  was  an- 
archy, 
Yet,  with  assum'd  composure,  beck'ning  forth 
His  princes,  whilst  the  inferior  throng  stood  off, 
And  mute  attention  reign'd,  in  few  thus  spake  : 
"  Friends  and  confederates,  welcome  !  for  this 
proof 


THE  BEATH  OF  CHRIST.  19 

Of  your  affiance,  thanks  !  On  every  call, 
Whether  we  need  your  counsel  or  your  arms, 
Joyful  I  see  your  read}  zeal  displays  370 

Virtues,  which  hell  itself  cannot  corrupt. 
I  mean  not  to  declaim  :  The  occasion  told 
Speaks  its  own  import,  and  the  time's  dispatch 
All  waste  of  words  forbids.    God's  Son  on  earth, 
Christ,  the  reveal' d  Messias,  how  to  oppose 
Is  now  the  question  ;  by  what  force,  or  power, 
(Temptations  have  been  tried,  I  name  not  them) 
Or  dark  conspiracy,  we  may  pull  down 
This    Son  of  Righteousness  from  his   bright 

sphere, 
Declare,  who  can  :     I  pause  for  a  reply."     380 

Silence  ensu'd,  whilst  every  eye  was  turned  ' 
Instinctively  on  Baal  ;  he  of  all 
Hell's  magi  fill'd  the  seat  of  wisdom  chief: 
Experienc'd  long  in  craft,  and  nothing  apt 
To  give  strait  counsel,  slow  of  speech  he  was  ;. 
To  hint,  propound,  dilate,  and  so  entice 
Other  opinions  forth,  them  to  refute, 
And  thereon  build  his  own,  was  all  his  art. 
After  long  pause,  and  hesitation  feign'd, 
(Stale  trick  of  orators,)  he  thus  began : 

"  Why  thus  on  me,  as  I  were  worthy — me, 
Lost  being  like  yourselves,  as  I  alone 
Could  compass  this  high  argument — on  me> 
Least  in  your  sapient  conclave,  why  you  point 


20  CALVAHY;    OR,  [book  i 

These  scrutinizing  looks,  I  muse  ;  and,  aw'd 
Bv  this  your  expectation,  fain  would  shrink 
From  the  great  task  to  silence,  had  you  not 
O'er  these  poor  faculties  such  full  control, 
As  to  put  by  all  pleas,  and  call  them  forth 
In  heav'n  or  earth,  or  hell's  profound  abyss,  400 
Yours  in  all  uses,  present  at  all  hours. 
Our  kingly  chief  hath  told  us  we  are  met 
To  combat  Christ  on  earth :  Be't  so  !  We  yet 
May  try  our  fortune  in  another  field  ; 
Worse  fortune  than  in  heav'n  befel  our  arms, 
Worse  downfal  than  to  hell,  we  cannot  prove. 
But  with  the  scene  our  action  too  must  change  i 
How  ?  To  what  warfare  ?... Circumvention,  fraud, 
Seduction  ?  These  are  earthly  weapons  ;  these 
As  man  to  man  opposes,  so  must  we  410 

To  Christ  incarnate.  There  be  some,  who  cry, 
Hence  with  such  dastard  arts  !  War,  open  war  ! 
I  honor  such  bold  counsellors,  and  yield 
All  that  I  can.. .my  praise  ;  till  one  be  found, 
One  that  may  rival  God's  own  Son  in  power, 
And  miracle  to  miracle  oppose  : 
More  than  my  praise  I  cannot,  my  assent 
I  will  not  give  ;  'twere  madness  :  And  how  war 
With  God  ?  what  arms  may  we  employ 

'gainst  him,  420 

Whose  very  prophets  can  call  down  heaven's 

fires 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  Si 

Upon  our  priests  and  altars  ?  For  myself, 
What  powers  I  had  I  shall  not  soon  forget ; 
What  I  have  left  I  know,  and  for  your  use 
Shall  husband  as  I  may,  not  vainly  risque 
Where  they  must  surely  fail.  The  Jews  pretend 
That  Christ  colludes  with  Beelzebub  ;  the  Jews 
As  far  mistake  my  nature  as  my  name. 
The  fallacy,  O  peers,  confutes  itself, 
Forg'd  to  disparage  Christ,  not  honor  me. 
Oh!  that  I  had  his  wonder-working  powers  ;  430 
I'm  not  that  fool  to  turn  them  on  myself: 
No,  my  brave  friends,  I've  yet  too  much  to  lose  ; 
Though  Babylon's  proud  shrines    are  laid  in 

dust, 
Rome's  capitol  survives,  and  thro'  the  world 
Where'er  her  eagles  fly,  upon  their  wings 
They  bear  my  thunder  and  they  spread  my  fame. 
Therefore  no  more  of  Beelzebub  and  Christ  ; 
No  league,  no  compact  can  we  hold  together. 
WJiat  then  ensues  ?  Despair?  Perish  the  thought! 
The  brave  renounce  it,  and  the  wise  prevent;  440 
You  are  both  wise  and  brave.     Our  leader  says 
Temptations  have  been  tried,   and  tried  in  vain, 
Himself  the    tempter.     Who  will  tread  that 

ground, 
Where  he  was  foil'd  ?  For  Adam  a  mere  toy, 
An  apple  serv'd  ;  Christ  is  not  brib'd  by  worlds: 
So  much  the  second  Man  exceeds  the  first 


22  CALVARY;    OK,  [book  i. 

In  strength  and  glory.  But  tho'  Christ  himself 

Will  not  be  tempted,  those  who  hear  him  may : 

Jews  may  be  urg'd  to  envy,  to  revenge, 

To  murder  ;  a  rebellious  race  of  old  !  45$ 

To  kill  a  prophet  or  betray  his  God 

What  Jew  was  ever  found  to  need  the  spur  ? 

Wist  ye  not  what  a  train  this  preacher  hath, 

What  followers,  what  disciples.  These  are  men, 

Mere  men,  frail  sons  of  Adam,  born  in  sin. 

Here  is  our  hope.     I  leave  it  to  your  thoughts." 

He  ceas'd  ;  but  neither  murmur  nor  applause 
Followed  his  speech  :  For  Moloch,  whose  fell 

heart 
111  stomach'd  this  tame  counsel,  least  of  all 
Taunts  thinly  cover'd  under  mask  of  praise,  466 
Sprung  forth  impetuous,  and  with  scowling  brow 
And  accent  acrimonious,  thus  reply'd  : 

"  My  thoughts,  it  seems,  are  known  before  I 
speak ; 
War,  open  war  is  all  my  note  :  I  rise 
To  thank  the  prophet,  who  thus  reads  my  heart, 
Where  honesty  should  wear  it — in  my  face  ; 
That  face  from  danger  I  did  never  hide, 
How  then  from  him  ?    Nor  am  I  by  his  praise 
More  honor'd  than  by  his  dissenting  voice  : 
For  whilst  he  counsels  circumvention,  fraud, 
Seduction — (if  my  memory  wrongs  his  words 
I  yield  it  to  correction) — we  stand  off, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  23 

Wide  as  the  poles  apart.     Much  I  had  hop'd 
When  the  great  tempter  fail'd,  and  in  your  ears 
Sung  his  own  honor's  dirge,  we  had  heard  the 

last 
Of  plots  and  mean    temptations  ;  mean    I  call 

them, 
For  great  names  cannot  sanctify  mean  deeds  : 
Satan  himself  knows  I  oppos'd  th'  attempt, 
Appealed,  protested  ;  my  thrice  honor'd  chief 
Knows  it  full  well,  and  blushes  for  th'  event.  480 
And  are  we  now  caballing  how  to  outwit 
A  fewr  poor,  harmless  fishermen,  (for  such 
Are  Christ's  disciples) — how  to  gull  and  cheat 
Their  simple  hearts  of  honesty  ?  Oh  peers, 
For  shame,  if  not  for  pity,  leave  them  that, 
That  beggar's  virtue  :  And  is  this  the  theme, 
The  mighty  theme,   which   now  employs  the 

thoughts 
Of  your  immortal  synod  ?  Shame,  Oh  shame  ! 
Princes,  dominions,  arch-angelic  thrones, 
Imperial  lords  !  these  were  your  titles  once ;  490 
By  these  names  ye  were  known  above  the  stars; 
Shame  not  your  ancient  dignities,  nor  sink 
Beneath  the  vilest  of  the  sons  of  men, 
Whisperers,   informers,    spies.     If  Christ  be 

God, 
Fight,  as  becometh  you  to  fight,  with  God  : 
If  man,  (and  sure  his  birth  bespeaks  no  more.) 


24  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  i. 

Why  all  this  preparation,  this  consult, 
These  mighty  machinations  and  cabals  ? 
Off  with  your  foe  at  once,  dismiss  him  hence 
Where  all  his  brother  prophets  have  been     500 

sent  ; 
Where  his  precursor  John  has  gone  before, 
Whose  voice  still  echoes  thro'  this  wilderness  : 
K  Repent  ye,  for  God's  kingdom  is  at  hand  ! 
"  Prepare  ye  the  Lord's  way  !" — It  is  prepar'd  ; 
It  leads  to  death — it  marshals  him  the  road 
To  that  oblivious  bourne,  whence  none  return  : 
Herod  yet  lives  ;  another  royal  feast, 
Another  wanton  dance,  and  he,  for  whom 
So  many  innocents  were  slain,  shall  fall. 
Once  vanquish'd,  are  we  therefore  to  despair  r 
In  heav'n  unequal  battle  we  provok'd  ; 
Tho>  vast  our  host,  the  million  was  with  God. 
On  earth  inquire  of  all  the  nations  round 
Whom  they  will  serve,  with  one  voice  they  reply. 
We  are  their  gods  ;  they  feed  us  with  their 

blood, 
Their   sons    and    daughters    they  make  pass 

through  fire 
To  do  us  grace  ;  if  their  own  flesh  they  give, 
Shall  they  withhold  to  sacrifice  a  foe  ? 
Twelve  tribes  were  all  Jehovah  had  on  earth, 
And  ten  are  lost ;  of  this  small  remnant,  few 
And  wretched  are  the  friends  that  league  with 

Heav'n. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  25 

And  where  is  now  Christ's  promis'd  reign  on 

earth  ? 
When  God's  own  servants  rise  against  his  Son, 
And  those,  to  whom  the  promises  were  giv'n. 
Revolt  from  their  Messias,  can  we  wish 
Greater  revenge  ?  What  need  have  we  to  tempt 
Those,  who  have  hearts  rebellions  as  our  own, 
As  prompt  to  malice,  no  less  prone  to  vex 
God's  righteous  spirit  ?    And  let  come  what 

may, 
It  comes  not  to  our  loss. ..rather  our  gain.      530 
Let  God  arise  to  vengeance  ;  let  him  pour 
Destruction  on  his  temple,  whose  proud  height 
Our  chief  can  witness,  measur'd  by  his  fall : 
Let  him  not  leave  one  stone  upon  another, 
As  his  rash  Son  hath  menac'd ;  let  his  wrath 
Thro'  all  the  inhospitable  earth  disperse 
His  scatter'd  tribes  ;  such  ever  be  the  fate 
Of  ail  his  worshippers  [  May  scorn,  contempt, 
Derision  be  their  lot,  and  may  their  God 
Never  recal  his  curse  \  Are  we,  O  peers,       540 
To  mourn  for  his  Jerusalem  ?  Our  joy 
Springs  from  confusion  ;  enmity  'twixt  God 
And  man  is  our  best  triumph :  For  myself, 
War  is  my  harvest ;  then  my  altars  blaze 
Brightest,  when  human  victims  feed  the  flame." 
Breathless,  he  paus'd  ;  so  rapid  was  the  pulse 
Of  his  high-beating  heart,  he  stood  as  one 

D 


26  CALVARY;    OK,  [book  i. 

Choak'd  and  convuls'd  with  rage  :  when,  as  he 

ceas'd, 
He  smote  his  mailed  habergeon  so  loud, 
Hell's  arm'd  legions  heard,  and  shook  their  550 

spears 
Betok'ning  war.     Frowning,  he  look'd  around, 
Whilst  from  his  fiery  eyes  such  terror  glane'd, 
It  scem'd  as  if  his  pride  meant  to  abash 
And  silence  all  opposers.     Yet  not  long 
His  triumph  ;  for  now  Belial,  from  the  ranks 
Graceful  advanc'd,  and  as  he  put  aside 
His  purple  robe  in  act  to  speak,  the  throng 
(Such  was  the  dazzling  beauty  of  his  form) 
Fell  back  a  space  ;  then  stood  all  eyes  and  cars 
In  expectation  mute  as  death.  Though  hell  560 
Own'd  not  a  spirit  more  false,  sensual,  and  base, 
YTet  ever  as  he  spake  such  action  grac'd 
His  words,  so  musically  soft  they  flow'd, 
TV  ho   most  despis'd  the   pleader    prais'd    the 

speech. 
When  thus,  with  mild,  insinuating  looks, 
Masking  his  rauc'rous  heart,  the  fiend  began  : 

c;  After  so  many  peaceful  ages  past, 
Since  first  emerging  from  hell's  dark  abyss, 
Eous'd  by  our  arch-angelic  chief,  we  sprung 
Up  to  this  middle  region,  and  here  seiz'd      5/0 
On  this  terrestrial  globe,  created  first 
For  man,  our  vassal  now,  where,  at  full  ease, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  27 

Lords  of  the  elements  and  gods  ador'd, 
We  reign  and  revel,  uudisturb'd  of  Heav'n. 
If  God,  whose  jealousy  be  sure  ill  brooks 
That  this  fair  world  should  be  so  long  possessed 
Of  us,  his  exil'd  angels,  and  his  name, 
Pent  up  in  Palestine,    should  now  arouse 
His  slumb'riag  wrath,  and  his  best  strength  put 

forth 
To  wrestle  for  lost  empire,  and  our  earth,     580 
As  we  in  evil  hour  his  heav'n,  assail, 
Who  of  this  misfhtv  svnod  but  must  own 
The  provocation  warrants  the  retort  ? 
If,  then,  the  Maker  of  mankind  hath  cause 
To  meditate  their  rescue,  we  no  less 
Have  cause  to  oppose  th'  attempt,  and  hold  them 

fast 
To  their  allegiance  in  despite  of  heav'n. 
Much,  then,  we  owe  to  our  great  leader's  care, 
Which,  ever  watchful  o'er  the  public  weal, 
Calls  us  to  this  full  council,  here  to  meet      590 
In  grave  consult  how  best  we  may  repair 
Past  disappointments,  and  repel  the  spite 
Of  this  new  Champion,  levelPd  at  our  shrines. 
Great  is  the  trouble  of  my  thoughts,  O  peers, 
And  much  perpiex'd  am  I  with  doubts,    what 

name, 
Nature,  and  office  to  ascribe  to  Christ  ; 
In  form,  the  lowliest  of  the  sons  of  men  ; 


88  CALYAPY;   OR,  [book  h 

In  miracles,  omnipotent  as  God  ; 
Whose  voice  controls  the  stoutest  of  our  host, 
Bids  the  graves  open,  and  their  dead  come  forth  \ 
"Whose  very  touch  is  health  ;  who  with  a  glance 
Pervades  each  heart,  absolves  it,  or  condemns  ; 
Whose  virgin  birth  credulity  scarce  owns, 
And  nature  disavows.     Prais'd  to  ail  time, 
Immortal  as  himself  be  the  renown 
Of  that  wise  spirit,  who  shall  devise  the  means, 
By  force  or  fraud,  to  overthrow  the  power 
Of  this  mysterious  foe— -what  shall  I  say  ? — 
Priest,  Prophet,  King,  Messias,  Son  of  God  ? 
Yet  how  God's  unity,  which  well  we  know  610 
Endures  no  second,  should  adopt  a  Son, 
And  essence  indivisible  divide, 
Barnes  my  weak  conjecture  :  Let  that  pass  i 
To  such  hard  doctrines  I  subscribe  no  faith : 
I'll  call  him  man  inspir'd,  and  wait  till  death 
Gives  sentence  of  mortality  upon  him. 
Meanwhile  let  circumspection  on  our  part 
Pill  all  the  anxious  interim  ;  alarm, 
Pome's  jealousy,  stir  up  the  captious  spleen 
Of  the  proud  Pharisee,  beset  him  round       620 
With   snares  to  catch  him,  urge  the    envious 

priests, 
For  envy  still  beneath  the  altar  lurks, 
And  note  the  man  he  trusts.  Mammon  could  tclL 
Though  Mammon  boasts  not  of  his  own  success* 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  20 

How  few  of  human  mould  have  yet  withstood 
His  glittering,  golden  lures.  The  sword  can  kill 
Man's  body  ;  gold  destroys  his  very  soul : 
Yet  mark  me  well,  I  counsel  not  to  tempt 
The  Master  ;  poverty  can  do  no  more 
Than  his  own  mortifying  penance  does  ;       630 
Hunger  and  thirst  and  obstinately  starve, 
When  his  mere  wish  could  make   the  rock  a 

spring 
And  its  hard  fragments  bread.     Yet  sure  I  am 
All  are  not  Christ's  in  heart,  who  with  their  lips 
Confess  him  ;  these  are  men,  and  therefore  frail, 
Frail  and  corruptible.     And  let  none  say, 
Fear  prompts  this  counsel  5  I  disclaim  all  fear 
But  for  the  general  cause.     In  every  heart 
Nature  hath  built  my  altar  ;  every  sect, 
Nation,  and  language,  with  one  voice,  confess 
Pleasure  the  sovereign  good.     The  Stoic  churl. 
The  dogged  Cynic  snarling  in  his  tub, 
And  all  the  ragged  moralizing  crew, 
Are  hypocrites  ;  philosophy  itself 
Is  but  my  votary  beneath  a  cloak. 
It  harms  not  me,  though  every  idol  god 
Were  tumbled  from  his  base  ;  alike  I  scorn 
Sampson's  strong  nerve  and  Daniel's  flaming 

zeal. 
And  let  Christ  preach  his  mortifying  rules  : 
Let  him  go  forth  through  ail  the  Gentile  world, 


30  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  i. 

And,  on  the  ruin  of  our  fanes,  erect 
His  church  triumphant  o'er  the  gates  of  hell, 
Still,  still  man's  heart  will  draw  the  secret  sigh 
For  pleasures  unenjoy'd  ;  the  gloomy  cell 
And  melancholy  fast... the  midnight  prayer, 
And  pale  contrition  weeping  o'er  her  lamp, 
Are  penances,  from  which  the  sense  revolts — 
Fines,  that  compounding  superstition  pays 
For  pleasures  past,  or  hrihes  for  more  to  come." 
"  Enough  of  this   vain  boast,"  here   Satan 
cry'd ;  660 

"More  than  enough  of  these  voluptuous  strains, 
Which,  though  they  lull  the  ear,  disarm  the  soul 
Of  its  best  attribute.     Not  gaudy  flowers 
Are  cull'd  for  med'cine,  but  the  humble  weed  ; 
True  widom,  ever  frugal  of  her  speccb, 
Gives  sage  advice  in  plain  and  homely  words. 
The  sum  of  all  our  reasoning  ends  in  this, 
That  nothing  but  the  death  of  Christ  can  solve 
The  myst'ry  of  his  nature  ;  till  he  falls 
Scarce  can  I  say  we  stand :  All  voices,  then,  670 
Tho'  varying  in  the  means,  conspire  his  deatli ; 
Some  cautiously  as  Baal  ;  some  with  zeal 
Precipitate  as  Moloch,  whose  swift  thought 
Vaults  over  all  impediments  to  seize 
The  goal  of  his  ambition.     But,  O  peers, 
Ours  is  no  trivial  care  ;  direct  your  sight 
Along  the  ranks  of  that  redeemed  host — 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  31 

On  us  hangs  all  their  safety.     Night  and  day 
My  anxious  thoughts  are  lab'ring  in  their  eause, 
And  whilst  Christ  walks  the  earth  I  take    680 

no  rest, 
A  watchful  spy  forever  at  his  side, 
Noting  each  word  and  deed  ;  sometimes  I  mix 
With  the  selected  Twelve  that  page  his  steps  : 
Of  these,though  some  have  waver' d,  none  is  false 
Save  one  alone,  Iscariot  he  by  name  ; 
The  taint  of  avarice  hath  touch'd  his  heart ; 
I've  mark'd  him  for  my  own.     Hear,  princes, 

hear ! 
This  night  the  priests  and  elders  will  convene 
Their  secret  conclave  :  I  am  in  their  hearts  ; 
Burning  with  envy,  malice,  and  revenge,      690 
Their  only  thought  is  how  to  tangle  Christ, 
In  whom  of  force  I  own  no  guile  is  found, 
But  gentleness  instead  and  perfect  truth... 
A  lamb  in  nature,  without  spot  and  pure... 
Fit  victim  therefore  for  their  paschal  rites, 
Which  now  are  near  at  hand  ;  apt  is  the  hour, 
Apt  are  the  instruments.     What  now  remains 
But  to  send  forth  a  tempter  to  persuade 
Iscariot  to  betray  his  Master's  life, 
And  damn  himself  for  gold?  Speak,  is  there  one? 
One  in  this  patriot  circle,  whom  all  eyes 
Point  out  for  this  emprise  ?  Most  sure  there  is  ; 
Belial  hath  well  predicted  of  our  choice  : 


32  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  i. 

Mammon,    stand  forth  !  on  thee  th'  election 

lights." 
He  spake,  and  all  approved  ;  for  choice  so  fit 
None  could  oppose;  when  Mammon  thus  reply'd: 
"  Prince  of  this  world  !  to  whom  these  armies 

owe, 
(Lost  but  for  thee  in  everlasting  night,) 
The  glorious  prospect  of  yon  rising  sun, 
'Tis  not  to  evade  the  labour,  but  prevent      710 
The  failure  of  your  hopes,  that  I  beseech 
Your  wisdom  to  correct  its  choice,  and  lodge 
This  arduous  embassy  in  abler  hands : 
Nathless,  if  such  your  will,  and  my  compeers 
Adjudge  me  to  this  service,  I  submit  : 
In  me  is  no  repugnance,  no  delay ; 
For  ever  what  these  toiling  hands  could  do, 
Or  patient  thoughts  devise,  that  I  have  done  ; 
Whether  in  heaven  ordain'd  to  undermine 
God's  adamantine  throne,  or  doomed  to  dig  7^0 
The  solid  sulphur  of  hell's  burning  soil,      [else 
Fearless  I  wrought ;  and,  were  there  no  tongues 
To  vouch  my  services,  these  scars  would  speak, 
How  many  daintier  spirits  do  I  see 
Fan*  as  in  heav'n,  and  in  fresh  bloom  of  youth, 
Whilst  I,  with  shrivell'd   sinews  crampt  and 

scorch' d 
'Midst  pestilential  damps  and  fiery  blasts, 
Drag,  as  you  see,  a  miserable  load, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  33 

A^e-struck  without  the  last  resource  of  death  : 
This  for  myself — no  more.     You're  not  to  know 
The  snares  which  I  employ  are  golden  snares  ; 
These  are  my  arts,  and,  like  the  crafty  slave, 
Who  in  Rome's  circus  hurls  the  fatal  net 
Over  his  fierce  pursuer,  so  oft  times 
Have  I  entangled  the  proud  hearts  of  men,[bribes> 
And  made  their   courage    stoop  to    shameful 
Paid  for  dishonest  deeds,  perjuries,  and  plots, 
That  draw  them  off  from  God,  who  else  had  fill'd 
His  courts  ere  now  with   guests,  and   peopled 
heav'n.  [mand  ; 

These  weapons  and  these  hands  you  still  com- 
So  dear  I  hold  the  general  cause  at  heart, 
So  disciplin'd  am  I  in  duty's  school, 
That,  reckless  of  all  hazard,  I  present 
Myself  your  servant,  or,  if  so  fate  wills, 
Your  sacrifice  :  for  though  from  mortal  man 
Discomfiture  I  dread  not,  yet  if  Christ,  [forth 
Whom  the  great  tempter  foil'd  not,  shall  stand 
The  champion  of  his  followers,  witness  forme, 
You  my  brave  peers  and  this  angelic  host, 
I  sought  not  this  hold  height,  whence  if  I  fall 
I  do  hut  fall  where  Satan  could  not  stand." 

"  Go,  then,"  exclaim'd  th'  arch  enemy  of  man, 
"  Go,  brave  adventurer,  go  where  glory  calls  : 
Auspicious  thoughts  engender  in  my  breast, 
And  now  prophetic  visions  burst  upon  me  : 

E 


34  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  i. 

I  see  the  traitor  Judas  with  a  band 
Of  midnight  ruffians  seize  his  peaceful  Lord : 
They  drag  him  to  the  bar,  accuse,  condemn  ; 
He  bleeds,  he  dies  !  Darkness  involves  the  rest. 
Ascend  the  air,  brave  spirit,  and  'midst  the  shout 
Of  grateful  myriads  wing  thy  course  to  fame." 
He  said,  and,  pointing  to  the  sacred  towers 
Of  God's  high  temple,  wav'd  his  scepter'd  hand ; 
Whereat  the  infernal  armies  gave  a  shout 
That  shook  the  rocky  desert  to  its  base. 
Me  an  while  the  fiend,  ambassador  of  hell, 
Exulting,  heard  his  high  election  crown'd 
With  their  applauding  voices,  and  the  call 
Of  his  great  chieftain  echo'd  to  the  skies,  [now 
Pride  swelPd  his  conscious   breast ;  no  longer 
Crouching  with  age  and  pain,  but  nerv'd  anew, 
As  with  a  spell  transform'd,  erect  he  stood 
With  tow-ring  stature  tallest  of  the  throng, 
And  looks  of  high  supremacy  and  state. 
And  now  from  either  shoulder  he  unfurl'd 
His  wide-stretch'd  pinions,  and  uprising  swift 
Tower'd  in  mid-air  ;  the  host  Mrith  loud  acclaim 
Hail'd  his  ascent :  he  on  the  well-pois'd  wing 
Hover'd  awhile,  till,  from  his  cloudy  height, 
Sweeping  the  wide  horizon,  he  descried,       780 
Far  in  the  west,  the  holy  city  of  God, 
His  destin'd  port,  then  to  the  orient  sun  [speed. 
Tura'dhis  broad  vans,  and  ply'd  their   utmost 

END  OP  THE  FIRST  BOOK, 


OR, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST. 


BOOK  II. 


ARGUMENT    OF    THE    SECOND    BOOK. 


Mammon,  alighting  on  the  Holy  Mount,  assumes  the  form  and  character 
of  a  Levite,  and  under  that  appearance  goes  in  search  of  Judas  Iscariot. 
He  meets  that  disciple  most  opportunely  for  his  purpose  in  a  solitary 
place,  and,  entering  into  conversation  with  him,  pretends  a  commission 
from  the  priests  and  elders  for  engaging  him  in  their  service,  with  a 
promise  of  a  reward,  and  urges  many  insidious  arguments  for  detaching 
him  from  his  Master  :  They  separate  with  a  promise  on  the  part  of  Ju- 
das to  report  his  final  answer  to  the  priests  that  evening.  Christ  is 
now  brought  to  view  sitting  in  the  midst  of  his  disciples  at  his  Last 
Supper  :  He  addresses  them  in  those  solemn  and  affecting  terms  re- 
corded in  the  Gospel  of  Saint  John,  washes  their  feet,  foretels  his  death, 
and  points  out  to  them  his  betrayer  in  the  person  of  Judas,  then  presents 
The  traitor,  perceiving  himself  discovered,  hastily  departs.  Christ, 
pitying  the  affliction  of  his  disciples,  tenderly  consoles  them  with  the 
promise  of  his  support  under  their  future  tribulations,  and  concludes 
with  an  awful  invocation  to  the  Father  in  their  behalf;  whereupon, 
warning  them  that  his  hour  is  come,  he  goes  forth  to  the  garden.  A 
reflection  naturally  springing  from  the  subject,  addressed  to  unbeliev- 
ers, closes  the  book. 


CALTARY,  &c. 


BOOK  II. 


THE    LAST    SUPPER. 

JN  OW,  on  the  consecrated  Mount  of  God, 
Mammon,  invisible  to  mortal  eye, 
Stooping  the  wing  from  his  aerial  height, 
With  feet  unhallowed,  lands  ;  a  direful  pest, 
Farthest  from  heav'n  of  all  that  out-cast  crew 
Who  fell  from  bliss  ;  fit  messenger  was  he, 
And  fatal  was  their  choice  who  sent  him  forth 
To  work  corruption's  purpose  in  man's  heart ; 
For  in  his  pow'r  excelling,  he  can  take 
The  semblance  of  each  virtue,  shift  each  form, 
And  turn  and  turn  new  faces  on  the  world, 
Till  he  hath  snar'd  a  soul ;  then  he  appears 
In  nature  as  he  is,  loathsome,  ohscene, 
Rapacious  as  those  filthy  monsters  feign'd 
By  fahling  poets  of  amphibious  breed, 
Harpies,  of  earth  and  ocean  the  foul  spawn, 
Half  brute,  half  human,  with  cadav'rous  face 
Horribly  pale,  and  hollow,  hungry  eye, 
Glaring  aghast,  with  wings  outstretch'd  to  chace, 
And  talons  crook'd  to  pounce  their  mangled  prey. 


38  CALYARY;    Oft,  [book  it, 

And  now,  by  dev'lish  spell  transform'd,  he  seems 

A  reverend  Levite^  bearded  to  the  waist ; 

Hypocrisy  ne'er  wore  a  graver  mask : 

And  still  with  wolf-like  watch  he  prowls  around 

If  haply  in  those  haunts  he  might  surprise 

Occasion  to  put  forth  his  damning  arts, 

And,  from  the  flock  of  their  good  Shepherd,  cull 

One  tainted  straggler — one,  whose  sordid  soul 

Av'rice  might  tempt  to  take  the  price  of  bloody 

And  sacrifice  the  Son  of  God  for  gold  :  30 

Of  ChAist  no  care  had  he>  but  to  elude 

His  vigilance,  which  still  was  all  his  dread  ; 

Nor  of  the  Twelve,  save  Judas,  was  there  one 

Whom  to  assail ;  on  him  alone,  on  him, 

Son  of  perdition,  rested  all  the  hopes 

Of  Satan  and  his  legions.     Now  the  fiend 

"With  ineffectual  search  had  coasted  all 

The  sacred  region  round,  and  in  the  shade 

Beneath  the  temple  porch  awhile  repos'd, 

List'ning  the  converse  of  the  idle  crowd,         40 

The  sun  then  high  at  noon ;  and  much  they  talk'd 

Of  Christ  and  his  great  miracles,  of  some 

Elias  deem'd,  of  some  the  Baptist  John 

Ris'n  from  the  dead,  but  by  all  tongues  confest 

A  prophet  mighty  both  in  word  and  deed. 

Silent  the  whilst,  in  secret  musings  wrapt, 

The  wizard  spirit  stood,  when  all  at  once 

Loud  voices  strike  his  ear,  and  straight  comes  one 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  39 

Leaping   and    bounding  'midst  the    shouting 

throng, 
A  cripple  new  restor'd  ;  the  very  bed,  [pressed, 
Which  from  his  birth  the  palsied  wretch  had 
Now  in  its  turn  was  carried,  and  to  all 
Triumphantly  expos'd.     "  Behold,"  he  cry'd, 
"  The  token  of  my  cure  ;  I  am  the  man 
Whom  ye  all  knew,  and  this  the  doleful  bed 
On  which,  fast  bound  in  misery  and  pain, 
Helpless  before  your  charitable  gates 
I  laid  and  begg'd  for  pity  and  relief:         [limbs 
Lo  !  I  am  free !    Mark  how    these   new-found 
Nimbly  the  health-restoring  voice  obey  !         60 
Christ  gave  the  word;  he  spake  and  I  am  whole." 
This  whilst  he  heard,   conviction   smote  the 

fiend ; 
His  conscious  heart  a  sudden  tremor  sciz'd, 
And  oft' he  slunk  abashed.     A  winding  path 
Led  down  the  mount,  and  here,  as  he  pursu'd 
In  gloomy  thought  the  solitary  way, 
Behold  by  happy  chance  the  man  he  sought, 
Iscariot,  and  alone  :  Joy  flush*  d  the  cheek 
Of  the  incarnate  daemon,  thus  to  find 
His  labour  in  auspicious  moment  crown'd.     70 
"  Hail,  son  of  Simon !  peace  be  to  thee,  friend  ! 
Fairly  encounter'd  art  thou  in  good  hour,'* 
The  priest-like  tempter  cried  :  "  thy  worth  is 

known 


40  CALVARY;    OK,  [book  n 

To  all  our  Leviies,  from  whose  tribe  I  come 
With  friendly   greeting1  charg'd.     This   night 

they  meet 
In  special  conclave  ;  our  chief  pontiff  there 
Will,  in  the  holy  convocation,  move 
Points  of  high  import  to  our  ancient  law- 
Questions  it  much  importeth  thee  to  hear, 
And  well  accepted  shalt  thou  he  of  all,  80 

Who,  with  large  recompense  and  honours  due, 
Will  greet  thee  so  complying  :  I  have  said." 

i;  Grave  Sir,  I  know  thee  not,"  Judas  reply'd  ; 
"  Yet  for  thy  greeting,  thanks,    and   peace  for 

peace, 
As  holv  men  becomes."     To  him  the  fiend — 

"  Unknown  I  well  may  be,  who,  night  and  day 
Serving  God's  altar,  rarely  stir  abroad, 
And  little  commerce  hold  with  this  great  world  ; 
But  thee  I  know,  one  of  that  Teacher's  train, 
Who  walks  at  large,  nor  shuns  the  haunts  im- 
pure 90 
Of  sinners  and  of  publicans.     Alas  ! 
That  one  of  thy  wise  bearing  should  be  seen 
In  such  base  fellowship,  paging  his  steps, 
Calling  him  Lord  and  Blaster,  whom  the  world 
In  mere  derision  suffers  to  grow  up 
To  full-blown  vanity,  at  once  to  crush. 
But  good  report  is  pregnant  with  thy  name, 
As  one  exempted  from  the  general  scorn  ; 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  4i 

And  sure  I  am  thou  wilt  not  so  abase 
And  turn  thy  nobler  thoughts  to  one  so  mean, 
Vile  and  mechanic  ;  to  the  driv'ling  crew 
Of  children  and  of  women  leave  that  task — 
To  Peter  and  his  brethren  of  the  net ; 
Fine  reasoning  we  shall  have,  and  well  be  school'd 
When  fishermen  turn  preachers,  and  instil 
Doctrines  and  laws,  which  Moses  never  taught. 
Woe  to  our  scribes  !  Rare  mock'ry  of  the  world 
And  the  world's  wisdom,  if  these  simple  folk, 
Lur'd  from  their  daily  drudgery,    should  set  up 
Fishers  of  men;  the  synagogue,  to  them     110 
A  barren  element,  will  never  yield 
Such  gainful  earnings  as  the  sea  affords. 
And  what  is  Christ  that  Judas  so  should  court 
His  starving  service  ?  What  so  tempting  lure 
Hath  this  deceiver  to  beguile  thy  hopes  ? 
*  Not  of  this  world  my  kingdom,"  he  hath  said  ; 
Yet  of  this  world  are  we  ;  in  this  alone 
We  live  and  move  ;  here  only  we  expect 
Or  pain  or  pleasure  ;  all  that  lies  beyond 
In  the  unknown  abyss  is  dark  as  death.       120 
And  wherefore  earnest  thou  that  bag  about  ? 
A  beggar  needs  no  treasurer,  and  thy  Lord 
Feeds  but  by  miracle.     Alas  for  him, 
Who  serves  a  master,  that  keeps  Sabbath  fasts 
Forty  long  days  in  the  bare  wilderness — • 
Makes  poverty  his  passport  into  heav'n, 

F 


42  CALVARY;    OK,  [book  ii. 

And  bids  us  throw  away  life's  present  means 

For  doubtful  chance  of  interest  after  life  ! 

And  art  thou  of  all  reason  so  bereft 

As  to  account  prosperity  a  crime,  130 

Or  think  none  blest  but  him,  whose  every  step 

Thro'  mis'ry's  thorny  path  is  mark'd  with  blood? 

O  son  of  Simon,  take  thy  last  resolve  : 

Either  resign  thy  body  to  the  worm, 

And  die  with  Christ,  or  him  renounce,  and  live 

Bich,  honor'd,  prosp'rous,  and  enjoy  the  world." 

The  fiend  now  paus'd,  well  pleas'd  that  he  had 
gain'd 
Audience  so  large  ;  when  Judas,  in  whose  soul 
The  pois'nous  instillation  'gan  to  work, 
Thus  to  corruption's  advocate  replied  :  140 

"  That  Christ,  rejected  and  despis'd  of  men. 
Hath  in  this  world  no  part,  I  freely  grant ; 
Therefore  if  we  his  followers  who  renounce 
Things  present,  build  our  hopes  upon  a  dream 
Of  what  shall  never  come,  we  arc  of  all 
Most  miserable  ;  if  we,  who  bid  farewel 
To  all  that  nature  holds  most  dear,  to  share 
Sorrows  and  pains  and  poverty  with  Christ, 
Find  not  those  blissful  mansions  in  the  heav'n 
Which  he  hath  promis'd;  if,  when  all  is  past,li5U 
And  this   sad  scene   concludes,   no  reck'ning 

comes, 
No  grateful  compensation  after  death, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHKIST.  43 

Hard  is  our  fate,  and  much  hath  he  abus*d 
Our  weak  credulity.     But  still  these  hopes 
Of  an  expected  glory,  though  with  doubt 
And  darkness  clouded,  faint,  not  yet  extinct, 
Yield  not  to  words  ;  words   made  them   what 
they  are —  [him. 

Christ's  words ;  and  surely  man  ne'er  spake  like 
Wherefore  if  these  jour  doctors  of  the  law 
Invite  me  to  their  conclave  hut  to  hear  160 

A  railing  accusation,  I  hold  off 
From  their  assembly,  and  to  Christ  adhere, 
As  to  the  better  reas'ner  ;  and  though  poor 
The  servant,  equal  is  the  Master's  lot, 
Poor  as  the  poorest,  houseless  and  forlorn, 
A  man  of  sorrows  ;  nor  can  we  complain, 
Whilst  he  of  all  we  suffer  still  partakes, 
First  in  all  labors,  penances,  and  pains. 
You  ask,  and  bid  me  take  my  last  resolve, 
If  I  will  give  this  body  to  the  worm  170 

And  die  with  Christ  :   To  die  is  nature's  dread  ; 
Instinctively  she  loaths  the  gloomy  grave, 
And  turns  a  longing  eye  to  light  and  life. 
But  fortune  gives  to  all  things  their  degrees  ; 
To  them,  who  bask  in  sunshine  thro'  the  day, 
Night  comes  with  double  sadness,  whilst  tome, 
Who  toil  from  morn  to  noon,  from  noon  to  eve, 
Yet  nothing  but  a  dim  horizon  see 
Low'ring  in  clouds,  darkness  is  nothing  strange, 


44  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  11, 

Nor  death  a  terror.     Wealth  presents  no  dower 
To  wed  me  to  the  world  ;  no  pleasures  cling 
Around  my  heart ;  no  soft  affections  woo 
My  longer  stay  on  earth,  there  to  prefer 
Brief  joys  possess'd,  to  hope  of  future  bliss.'5 

Thus  whilst  he  'plain'd,  the  subtle  tempter's 
ear 
Caught  the  soft  murmur  that  betrays  the  soul... 
The  sigh  capitulating  virtue  breathes, 
When  from  her  last  defences  she  retreats  ; 
Whereat  a  bolder  tone  he  now  as  sum' d, 
And  thus  the  wav'ring,  false  disciple  ply'd;  190 

"  All  joys  that  gold  can  purchase  wait  your 
choice  ; 
Rich  to  your  heart's  ambition  you  shall  be  ; 
Nor  only  rich,  but  rescu'd  from  a  doom 
So  dreadful,  had  you  all  the  wealth  in  store, 
Which  the  sea  covers  or  the  earth  contains, 
*Twere  well  bestow'd  to  purchase  your  redemp* 
tion.  [meet 

"With  Christ  impending  death. ..with  me   you 
Life  with  encircling  pleasures.     Throw  aside 
That  beggar's  purse;  your  starving  office  spurn  ; 
Serve  God's  high  priest,  whose  treasury  is  full ; 
Cast  those  few  mites  away,  the  scanty  dole 
Of  some  contaminating  leper's  hand, 
For  which  you  bid  God  heal  him  and  pass  on  ; 
Whilst  he,  good  crcd'lous  soul,  cries  out  amain-, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  45 

As  powerful  fancy  works,  "  Lo !  I  am  clean  ; 
Behold  a  miracle  I" — But  gold  performs 
Greater  and  happier  miracles  than  this  : 
Gold  with  a  touch  can  heal  the   mind's  disease, 
Quicken  the  slow-pac'd  hlood,  and  make  it  dance 
In  tides  of  rapture  thro'  each  thrilling  vein  ;  210 
Cast  out  that  worst  of  dsemons,  poverty, 
And  with  a  spell  exorcise  the  sad  heart, 
Haunted  with  spectres  of  despair  and  spleen. 
If,  then,  this  prize  can  tempt  thee — if  thy  soul 
Still  thirsts  for  life,  for  riches,  for  repose  ; 
If  in  thy  breast  there  dwells  that  manly  scorn, 
Which  slighted  merit  feels,  when  envious  pride 
Thrusts  it  aside  to  build  the  unworthy  up, 
Now,  now  assert  it ;  from  a  Master  turn, 
Who  turns  from  thee — who  before  thee  exalts 
Thy  meaner  brethren,  Peter,  James,  and  John  : 
On  them  his  partial  smile  forever  beams — 
They  have  his  love,  his  confidence,  his  heart : 
Of  them  revolting  he  might  well  complain — 
Of  thee  he  cannot ;  thine  were  just  revenge  : 
He  is  no  traitor,  who  resents  a  wrong  ; 
Who  shares  no  confidence  can  break  no  trust. 
Bidconscience,  then, be  still;  let  no  weak  qualms 
Damp  thy  reviving  spirit ;  but  when  night 
Wraps  her  dark  curtain  round  this  busy  world, 
Come  thou  to  Caiaphas  :  there  will  be  found 
Our  priests  and  scribes  in  council  to  attaint 


46  CALVARY;    OH,  [book  il 

And  bring  to  judgment  this  presumptuous  man, 

Who  boasts  himself  Messias,  Son  of  God. 

If  thou,  to  whom  his  midnight  haunts  are  known. 

His  secret  incantations  and  his  spells, 

By  which  he  does  those  feats  that  cheat  our  sight. 

Wilt  to  those  guilty  haunts  conduct  our  guard, 

And  render  up  his  person  to  the  law, 

Much  praise  and  large  reward  shalt  thou  receive. 

If  thou  wilt  not — But  wherefore  should  I  doubt  ? 

I  would  persuade,  not  threaten  :  Know  withal 

It  is  not  thou,  'tis  justice  gives  the  blow ; 

The  law  will  have  its  victim.     Thinkest  thou 

That  we,  to  whom  the  custody  is  giv'n 

Of  God's  prophetic  oracles,  ordain'd 

To  guard  his  worship,  and  expound  his  laws, 

Will  let  this  innovating  Teacher  spurn 

Our  holy  order,  mock  our  ancient  rites, 

Profane  our  Sabbaths,  and  himself  exalt,       %5Q 

Co-equal  with  Jehovah,  to  confound 

His  unit},  and  claim  divided  power  ? 

No,  let  death  arbitrate 'twixt  him  and  us  ; 

If  he  be  very  Christ,  death  shall  not  dare 

To  aim  his  dart  at  immortality  ; 

His  in  corruption  shall  defy  the  grave — 

If  man,  blaspheming  man,  lie  justly  dies. 

Living  or  dying,  thus  his  fate  dispels 

All  mystery  ;  truth  starts  of  force  to  light, 

And  God  is  glorified  in  cither  case."  2G0 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  47 

He  ceas'd,  and  on  the  traitor  fix'd  a  look, 
Which,  like  the  serpent's  fascinating  eye, 
Gaz'd  motion's  power  away ;  sullen  he  stood, 
As  with  a  spell  entrane'd  ;  the  awful  sense 
Of  his  great  Master's  virtue,  and  the  dread 
Of  an  hereafter  terrible  to  thought, 
No  longer  serv'd  to  hold  the  wizard  fiend 
And  his  fell  arts  at  bay.     The  word  of  truth, 
Sown  on  the  surface  of  his  stony  heart, 
Had  perish'd  without  root ;  religion's  lamp,  270 
Faint  and  more  faint  as  Mammon's  crafty  breath 
Slew  up  the  storm  of  passion,  now  expir'd 
In  his  benighted  soul ;  there  rankling  pride, 
Malicious  envy,  av'rice  and  revenge, 
Leagu'd  with  hell's  minister,  and  uncontrol'd, 
Their  impious  orgies  held.  At  length  the  wretch, 
To  calm,  deliberate  treachery  resigned, 
With  all  th'  unrighteous  Mammon  in  his  heart 
And  vile  prevarication  on  his  lips, 
Thus  with  consent,  in  dubious  phrase  imply'd, 
The  grand  seducer  of  mankind  dismiss'd: 

i;  Great  is  the  peril  of  th'  attempt  you  urge, 
For  great  the  power  of  him  you  would  destroy : 
Therefore  if  I  demand  some  pause  for  thought, 
Deem  it  not  much.  Your  offers  shall  be  weigh'd; 
But  now  no  more.  Occasions  call  me  hence. 
This  night  the  Master  hath  convok'd  the  Twelve 
To  keep  the  sacred  feast,  ordain'd  of  God 


48  CALVARY;    OS,  [book  11. 

With  bread  unleaven'd  and  the  Paschal  Lamb. 
Thither,  tho'  last  and  in  his  favor  least,         29 Q 
I  go  a  cited  guest.     There  whilst  I  sit 
Unnotic'd  at  his  table's  lowest  foot, 
My  meditations  shall  recal  your  words, 
And  ponder  them  apart.     Say  to  your  priests, 
Those  conservators  of  our  ancient  law, 
This  night  they  may  expect  my  last  resolve. 
And  now  behold  the  length'ning  shadow  marks 
The  ev'ning  hour,  that  warns  me  hence  :  Fare- 

wel I" 
This  said,  their  conference  ended,  they  embrace 
As  friends,  who  plight  their  faith.     Upon    300 

the  touch, 
So  quick  the  infection  ran.. .so  dire  the  blight, 
The  pois'nous  ferment  on  the  instant  reach'd 
Iscariot's  tainted  heart,  and  now  he  burnt 
With  the  fell  lust  of  gold.  Joy  seiz'd  the  fiend  ; 
For  well  he  knew  how  mortal  to  the  soul 
That  deadly  aconite,  the  growth  of  hell. 
Oh  !  wretch  forever  lost,  forever  curst,    [wake 
Whom  Mammon  thus  embraces  !    Who  shall 
Thy  conscience  from  its  lethargy  ?  Who  now 
Shall  stop  the  courses  of  that  baneful  drug,  310 
And  stem  the  swift  destruction  ?  >Tis  too  late : 
Better  for  thee   hadst  thou  ne'er  seen  the  light, 
Or  lost  it  ere  this  fatal  hour  had  birth. 
Thy  doom  is  seal'd  ;  hell  hath  its  hour  of  joy, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  49 

Thou  traitor,  an  eternity  of  woe  : 
The  meditation  of  thy  heart  shall  hurl 
Thee  to  perdition  and  thy  Lord  to  death. 
Now  Judas  down  the  mountain  turn'd  his  steps; 
Not  so  the  tempter  ;  he  from  the  high  rock, 
Exalted  where  he  stood,  his  impious  eye      320 
Glanc'd  o'er  the  city  of  God,  full  in  his  view 
From  east  to  west  in  moony  crescent  stretch'd. 
Here  yet  Jehovah  was  ador'd,  here  reign'd ; 
All  else  to  Satan  and  his  idol  gods         [names 
Thro'  earth's  wide  range  belong'd ;  to  their  dire 
Each  temple  echo'd...ev,ry  knee  was  bow'd. 
How  oft,  e'en  here,  upon  his  holy  hill, 
Did  Judah's  kings  with  their  polluted  groves 
Affront  God's  house,  and  pagan  altars  raise 
To  Chemos,  Milcom,  Ashtoreth,  and  ail        330 
The  host  of  heav'n,  within  his  sacred  courts  ! 
Witness  that  impious  king,  who  pass'd  his  sou 
Through  fire  to  Moloch,  homicidal  god, 
Which  rous'd  th'  Almighty's  vengeance,  and 

entail'd 
Mournful  captivity  on  all  his  race. 
Hither,  as  to  the  delug'd  world  of  old, 
In  promis'd  time,  the  dove  of  peace  was  sent ; 
Upon  this  Ararat,  his  sacred  mount, 
He  rested  ;  hence  salvation  dawn'd  on  man. 
Him  to  destroy  the  tempter  now  aspir'd,      340 
Secure  of  his  new  convert  firmly  leagu'd 

G 


39  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  n, 

In  his  dire  plot  and  to  perdition  sealed. 
Nor  rested  en  that  mount  the  darkling  fiend. 
Xor  further  need  had  he  of  priestl j  garb, 
Than  till  he  saw  Iscariot  join  the  train 
Of  Christ  and  his  disciples  ;  then  at  Once 
To  his  own  airy  properties  dissolved, 
A  spirit  invisible,  with  eager  speed 
To  hell's  assembled  chiefs  he  wino^d  his  flight. 
The  sun  had  sunk  beneath  the  western  hills, 
And  now  at  evening  hour  the  Jews  prepare 
To  celebrate  their  Passover,  ordain' d 
T'  eternize  their  deliv'rance,  when  God's  wrath 
Smote  every  first-born  male  in  Misraim's  coast, 
Save  where  the  blood  of  lamb  piacular, 
Sprinkling  the  consecrated  door,  was  found 
Of  the  destroying  angel.     To  this  feast, 
Prelusive  of  his  own  pure  sacrifice 
And  type  of  his  blood-shedding,  Jesus  came; 
The  guests  were  present  and  the  table  spread  : 
With  loins  begirt,  as  men  upon  the  march, 
And  staff  in  hand,  they  snatch  a  hasty  meal : 
This  done,  in  pensive  meditation  wrapt, 
The  Saviour,  conscious  of  impending  death, 
Sate  in  the  midst ;  to  his  all-present  mind 
The  treason  and  the  traitor  stood  confest. 
Low'ring  abash'd,  and  from  the  rest  apart, 
Iscariot  at  the  table's  lowest  foot         [glance. 
Took  post  where  best  he   might   escape   that 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  5  i 

From  whose  intelligence  no  heart  could  hide 
Its  guilty  meditations.     AH  eyes  else 
Were  center'd  on  the  Saviour's  face  divine, 
Which,  with  the  brightness  of  the    Godhead, 
Mix'd  traces  of  human  sorrow,  and  display *d 
The  workings  of  a  mind,  where  mercy  scem'd 
Struggling  to  reconcile  some  mortal  wrong 
To  pardon  and  forbearance.     Such  a  look 
3Iade  silence  sacred.. .every  tongue  was  mute  ; 
E'en  Peter's  zeal  forbore  the  vent  of  words, 
Or  spent  itself  in  murmurs  half  supprest.     380 
At  length  the  meek  Redeemer  rais'd  his  eyes, 
"Where  gentle  resignation,  tempering  grief, 
Beam'd  grace  ineffable  on  all  around, 
And  with  these  words  the  awful  silence  broke  : 

"  Muse  not  if  I  am  sad,  nor  stand  aghast 
As  doubtful  of  my  constancy.     These  pangs, 
And  more  which  I  must  suffer,  were  foreseen  ; 
The  hour  now  coming,  comes  not  by  surprise... 
It  is  the  consummation  of  ray  charge, 
And  fills  the  measure  of  atonement  up.  390 

Shall  I  then  say,  Father,  avert  this  hour  ? 
And  save  me  from  these  agonies  ?  Not  so. 
With  heart  prepar'd  to  suffer  and  submit 
I  meet  my  doom  forewarned.     Yet  ere  we  part 
Take  this  last  office  from  your  Master's  hands  ; 
And  when  you  see  me  stoop  to  wash  your  feet, 
As  soon  you  shall,  remember  'tis  your  Lord, 


53  CALVARY;   OB,  [book  n. 

Your  dying  Lord  this  Legacy  bequeaths, 
And  edify  by  his  humility." 

This  said,  his  seamless  mantle  he  threw  off, 
And  girt  his  tunic  close  about  his  waist ; 
And  with  mute  amazement  they  beheld 
The  Son  of  God,  in  servant-like  attire, 
Prepar'd.  to  execute  his  menial  task. 
All  gaz'd,  all  wonder'd,  but  no  voice  oppos'd  ; 
None  dar'd  to  pray  forbearance  of  the  deed, 
Till  he,  whose  heart  was  ever  on  his  lips, 
Peter,  in  warm  expostulation  cry'd  : 

"  Lord,  doest  thou  wash  my  feet,  thy  servant's 
feet, 
Mean  as  the  dust  he  treads  on  ?  Never,  Lord, 
Never  shalt  thou  do  that  for  one  so  vile, 
So  all-unworthy :  That  be  far  from  thee  ! 
Such  homage  ill  beseemeth  thee  to  pay... 
Me  to  receive." — To  him  the  Lord  replied  : 

"  Peter,  as  yet  thou  know'st  not  what  I  do — 
Hereafter  thou  shalt  know  ;  therefore  no  more  : 
Cease  to  oppose,  for  if  I  wash  thee  not, 
With  me  thou  hast  no  part."  Struck  to  the  soul 
With  horror  at  the  thought,  his  eager  words, 
Wing'd  with  the  flame  of  rhapsody,  burst  forth: 

"Oh !  not  my  feet  alone.. .my  hands,  my  head, 
Wash  me  all  o'er,  and  sanctify  each  part." 

"  There  needs  not  this,"  the  meek  Redeemer 
cry'd, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  53 

:<  Enough  is  done  ;  thus  wash'd,  tho'  but  in  part, 
Thou  shalt  be  clean  thro'out.     Yet  I'll  not  say 
Ye  are  all  clean.     Spite  of  the  Shepherd's  care, 
The  taint  hath  touch'd  his  flock.  Alas  !  for  him 
On  whom  the  foul  contamination  lights  ; 
Woe  to  that  wretch  that  ever  he  was  born  ! 
And  do  ye  need  a  comment  to  expound         430 
This  lesson  of  humility  and  love  ? 
Ye  call  me  Lord  and  Master  ;  well  ye  say. 
For  such  in  truth  I  am  ;  if  then  your  Lord 
Be  meek  and  lowly,  will  not  ye  renounce 
Pride  and  contention  ?  If  the  Master  stoops 
To  wash  his  feet  who  serves,  shall  ye  do  less 
To  these  your  equal  brethren?  Learn  of  me, 
And  each  with  other  deal,  as  I  with  you.    [nigh 
Write  on  your  hearts  my  words  ;  the  time  draws 
When  I  shall  speak  no  more  with  you  on  earth. 
Ye  have  all  heard  ;  how  blest  if  ye  obey  ! 
I  speak  not  of  you  all :  Whilst  here  ye  sit 
In  seeming  fellowship  around  this  board, 
Sharing  the  social  meal,  my  last  on  earth, 
Doubt  not  but  I  can  search  into  your  breasts, 
And  see  whose  hearts  are  loyal,  whose  is  false : 
And  mark  me  well,  I  fall  not  bv  man's  wiles — 
Not  unpredicted  is  the  trait'rous  act,       [hand 
And  well  I  know  the  wretch,  whose  faithless 
Dips  with  me  in  the  dish,  shall  soon  be  dy'd  450 
With  my  devoted  blood.     Betray'd  I  am — 


64  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  n. 

Deceiv'd  I  cannot  be." — This  when  thev  heard, 
Each  with  the  other  interchanged  a  look 
Of  question  and  suspect;  speechless  they  star'd, 
Confounded  and  aghast :  As  men,  drawn  forth 
For  decimation,  tremble  to  unfold 
The  lot  of  life  or  death,  so  these  in  doubt 
On  whom  the  word  of  prophecy  might  light, 
Curious,  yet  fearful  to  inquire  of  Christ, 
Searched  their  own  hearts  in  silence.     All  per- 

ceiv'd  4&0 

Omnicience,  which  to  God  alone  belongs, 
Familiar  with  their  thoughts,  and  every  soul 
Save  that   dire  wretch  whom   conscience    inly 

smote, 
Trembled,  lest  unpremeditated  guilt 
Might  be  denounc'd  upon  him,  or  the  sin 
Of  one  man,  as  of  Korali,  move  the  Lord 
With  the  whole  congregation  to  be  wroth. 
But  Peter,  in  whose  ever-anxious  mind 
These  terrors  undispeli'd  long  could  not  dwell, 
To  the  belov'd  disciple,  on  the  breast  4/0 

Of  Christ  reclining,  now  gave  sign  to  ask 
The  fearful  question,  in  what  traitor's  heart 
Plot  so  accurs'd  could  harbor.    Thus  besought, 
Though  much  his  humble  nature  fear'd  offence, 
In  accent  soft,  with  supplicating  eye 
Turn'd  on  the  Master,  the  meek  suitor  said  : 
"Lord,  shew  thy  true  and  faithful  servants  grace, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  55 

And  let  us  know  the  traitor."     "  He  it  is," 

Jesus  reply'd,  ';  on  whom  I  shall  bestow 

This  sop,  when  I  have  dipp'd  it  in  my  cup."  480 

He  said,  and  as  he  plung'd  the  morsel  in, 
All  eyes  were  fix'd  upon  the  fatal  work, 
Wond'riug  on  whom  he  would  bestow  the  spell  5 
And  soon  with  silent  horror  they  beheld 
The  saturated  sop  to  Judas  giv'n, 
Pledge  of  perdition  ;  he  with  greedy  haste 
Devour'd  it,  by  the  fiend  within  him  urg'd  5 
For  Mammon  to  the  dark  divan  had  told 
The  joyful  tidings,  and  had  posted  back 
Swift  as  the  magic  whirlwind,  conjur'd  up     490 
By  all  hell's  wizard  imps,  could  drive  him  on, 
And  now  sat  nestling  in  the  traitor's  heart, 
Brooding  his  filthy  spawn.     Great  was  the  joy 
Of  the  infernal  tempter,  thus  to  find 
That  guardian  Pow'r,    whose   providence    li* 

fear'd, 
H\  these  symbolic  elements  withdrawn, 
And  his  apostate  victim  now  cast  out 
From  the  Lord's  Supper,  alien  from  God's  grace; 
And  soul-surrender'd  to  hell's  gloomy  realm. 

Now  as  the  spell  within  him  'gan  to  work,  500 
The  traitor's  visage,  like  the  troubled  sea 
Up  torn  and  furrow'd  with  tempestuous  winds? 
Shifted  its  hues,  now  deadly  pale,  aghast 
And  horror  struck.  now  fierared.  deform'd 


y(5  CALYAIiY  ;    OR,  |_bqok  ii. 

"With  hellish  rage,  and  from  man's   semblance 

chang'd 
To  very  daemon,  terrible  to  sight. 
Oh  !  what  a  fall  from  heav'n  to  deeper  hell 
Than  thought  can  fathom... horrors  worse  than 

heart 
Of  man,  unless  abandon'd  of  his  God. 
Can  suffer  or  conceive  !  Words  do  but  fail    510 
To  paint  that  unreveal'd  abyss,  those  depths 
Of  the  immeasurable  profound,  where  groans, 
Waitings  and  woes  and  tossings  amidst  fires 
Unquenchable  await  the  wretch  condemn'd  ! 
Meanwhile,  in  cloudless  majesty  and  mild. 
The  Saviour's  face  divine  on  all  around 
Effulgent  beam'd  ;  about  his  temple  shone 
A  radiant  glory  :  This  when  Judas  saw, 
Whom  now  the  sp'rit  of  darkness  had  possess'd. 
And  none  such  in  the  sphere  of  that  pure  light 
Long  could  abide,  he  started  from  his  couch 
Prep ar'd  for  flight,  when  thus  in  few  the  Lord  : 
"  Go  then  !  and  what  thou  hast  in  hand  to  do, 
Do  quickly;  so  depart !"     The  word  of  power, 
Though  gentle,  yet  commanding,  Judas  heard, 
And  instantly  the  spirit  took  him  thence  ; 
^or  could  he  not  obey  ;  for  so  rebuk'd 
The  prince  of  hell,  Satan  himself,  had  fled. 
The  faithful  remnant  sate  in  mute  suspense, 
Pondering  what  this  dismission  might  import. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  57 

The  Master  with  a  glance  discern'd  their  tho'ts ; 
He  saw  them  in  profound  conjecture  lost... 
Humbled  in  heart  and  sad — their  honor  stain' d 
By  base  defection,  and  their  faitli  convuls'd : 
When  thus,  at  once  to  strengthen  and  console 
Their  wav'ring  minds,  these  healing  words  he 
spake  : 

u  Let  not  your  hearts  be  troubled  :  Ye  believe 
In  God  ;  believe  also  in  me  his  Son. 
Doubt  not  but  in  the  compass  of  the  heav'ns 
My  Father  will  provide,  for  all  his  saints,  540 
Mansions  of  peace,  seats  of  eternal  bliss,  [dwell, 
Where   sp'rits  made  perfect  after  death   shall 
And  rest  from  earthly  toils.     Thither  I  go 
To  seal  your  sure  election,  and  prepare 
For  you,  my  faithful  servants,  an  abode  ; 
That,  as  in  sorrow  here,  so  there  in  bliss 
With  me  your  Lord,  now  dying  for  your  sakes, 
Ye  may  surmount  the  grave,  and  ever  live 
In  heavenly  communion  undisturb'd. 
Lament  not  therefore  if  I  now  depart,  550 

Your  provident  precursor,  for  ye  know 
Whither  I  go,  and  also  know  the  way. 

"  Lord,weare  ignorant  and  dim-sighted  men," 
Thomas  reply'd  ;  "  we  see  not  what  thou  see'st  $ 
And  as  it  stands  not  in  our  reach  to  guess 
Whither  thou  go*st,  how  should  we  know  the 
way  :" 

H 


58  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  ii. 

"  I  am  the  Way,"  th'  inspired  Teacher  cry'd, 
"  I  am  the  Truth,  the  Life  :  None  can  approach 
The  Father  but  by  me  ;  me  had  ye  known, 
This  blindness  had  been  done  away  ;  and  now 
Behold  Him  present !" — "  Where  ?"  still  doubt- 
ing cry'd 
One  of  the  astonish'd  number  ;  "Oh!  impart 
That  intellectual  vision  to  discern 
And  see  the  Father  ;  set  Him  in  our  view 
In  form  demonstrative  ;  we  ask  no  more." 
"  Say'st  thou  ?"  resum'd  the  Lord,  "  and  have 
I  been 
So  long  familiar,  yet  so  little  known  ? 
Will  not  the  works,  O  Philip,  I  have  done... 
Done  in  thy  sight,  instruct  thee  whence  1  am, 
And  what  my  pow'r  ?  Doth  there  need  light  for 
this  ?  [thee, 

"Midst  the  broad  blaze  of  proofs  that  shine  about 
Canst  thou  not  see  God's  presence  in  his  power? 
Of  this  mortality  which  ye  behold, 
This  fleshy  self,  I  speak  not ;  'tis  the  Spirit, 
The  virtue  of  my  Father,  which  is  in  me... 
In  act  how  visible,  in  voice  how  strong, 
Clear,  and  express  !  And  can  you  see  and  henr 
And  yet  withhold  belief?  Oh,  slow  of  faith  ! 
Tf  words  cannot;  persuade,  let  works  convince  : 
If  miracles,  which  only  God  can  do,  580 

\vo  done  before  your  eyes,  how  say  you  then. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  39 

•  Shew  us  the  Father  ?'  Sanctify  your  hearts 

From  fear  and  terror ;  though  the  hour  come  on, 

When  to  the  silent  mansions  of  the  dead, 

From  this  impendent  world,  I  must  withdraw, 

Mourn  not,  but  let  your  grief  he  turn'd  to  joy  : 

For  as  in  me  the  Father,  so  in  Him 

I  live  and  move  ;  my  Spirit,  though  unseen, 

Still  present,  shall  protect  and  hover  o'er  you. 

I  will  not  leave  you  comfortless ;  my  Name  590 

Shall  be  your  tower  of  refuge  ;  with  my  peace 

Now  dying  I  endow  you :  of  that  peace  [poil'd ; 

By  this  world's   pow'rs  you  ne'er  shall  be  des- 

And  in  my  name  whatever  ye  shall  ask 

Believing,  ye  shall  have.     By  faith  in  me 

Ye  shall  command  the  elements. ..uplift 

The  everlasting  mountains  by  their  roots, 

And  whelm  them  in  the  centre  of  the  sea. 

Thus  in  my  name  potential  ye  shall  do, 

And  greater  works  than  these.     By  faith  in  me 

Ye    shall   confront  th'   oppressor ;  'midst  the 
shock 

Of  tribulations  and  the  angry  scorn 

Of  a  malignant  world,  abhorr'd,  despis'd, 

Thrust  from  their  synagogues,  ye  shall  possess 

Your  souls  in  patience,  glorying  to  endure 

Like  tribulation  with  your  martyr'd  Lord. 

Despair  not,  therefore,  for  before  that  day 

A  Comforter  shall  come,  whom  I  will  send, 


60  CALYARY;    OR,  [book  n. 

And  he  shall  teach  you  all  things.     When  ye 

stand 
Before  the  judgment  seat  of  impious  men, 
Friendless,  accus'd,  environ'd  with  a  throng 
Of  perjur'd  witnesses  athirst  for  hlood, 
Your  Guardian  Spirit  shall  provide  a  voice, 
Action  and  eloquence,  and  prompt  your  lips, 
"With  untaught  language,  to  resound  my  Name 
With  tongue  miraculous  through  all  the  world. 
Wars  then  and  rumors,  and  portentous  signs, 
Famine  and  earthquakes  and  disastrous  plagues 
Shall  vex  the  nations  ;  prophets  shall  arise, 
With  lying  divinations  to  confound  620 

The  weak,  pervert  the  wavering,  and  perplex 
The  very  saints  themselves.     Await  the  time  ; 
These  are  but  harbingers  of  mightier  woes  ,* 
The  day  of  terror  is  but  in  its  dawn. 
The  powers  of  earth  and  heav'n  must  undergo 
Direful  convulsion  ;  this  majestic  pile, 
This  temple,  shall  become  so  mere  a  wreck, 
That  not  one  stone  shall  rest  upon  another. 
Then  shall  your  hour  of  tribulation  come  ; 
Then,  to  confess  my  name  shall  be  your  crime, 
By  torture  and  by  death  to  be  aton'd. 
The  tyrants  of  the  world  shall  then  let  loose 
Their  persecuting  rage,  and  great  shall  be 
The  falling-off  of  many  ;  rocks  and  caves 
Shall  be  your  hiding-places  ;  yet  from  thence 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  6i 

Your  sound  shall  echo  to  the  farthest  ends 
Of  the  redeemed  earth  ;  from  those  dark  cells 
The  beams  of  revelation  shall  break  forth, 
Maugre  the  pow'rs  of  hell  ;  and  blest  is  he, 
Whose  faith  unshaken  shall  abide  the  time,  640 
Till  the  great  end  and  consummation  comes, 
My  peace  and  my  salvation  to  insure. 
Few  are  the  moments  now  and  passing  swift, 
Which  thus  conversing  we  have  vet  in  hand. 
Servants  no  more. ..henceforth  I  call  you  friends; 
Therefore,  as  friends  and  children,  let  your  love 
Each  to  the  other  knit  your  hearts  together 
In  brotherly  communion  ;  this  command, 
!NTew  to  the  world,  I  give  you  :  Let  good  will, 
And  peace  and  concord  harmonize  your  souls, 
And  mark  you  as  the  followers  of  Him, 
Whose  every  act  was  charity — whose  life 
Was  spent  and  clos'd  expiring  for  your  sakes. 
And  stronger  proof  of  love  what  man  can  give, 
Than  to  yield  up  his  body  to  the  grave, 
And  die,  as  shortly  I  shall,  for  his  friends  ? 
Time  was  that  I  have  shadow'd  out  my  speech 
In  proverbs  and  allusions  ;  time  now  is 
To  cast  obscurity  aside,  and  shew 
Th'  unveil'd  glories  of  the  Father  to  you.     660 
Henceforward  ye  shall  ask  of  Him  and  have ; 
My  name  for  your  petitions  shall  suffice  ; 
My  pray'rs  ye  need  not,  for  the  Father's  love 


62  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  n. 

Without  an  intercessor  shall  protect 
Mine,  as  you  love  me,  and  prevent  your  wants. 
From  Him  I  came  into  this  world ;  to  Him, 
This  world  now  leaving,  I  again  return." 
This  said,  conviction  smote  their  glowing 

hearts 
With  faith,  and  hope's  bright  image  new  inspired, 
And  scenes  of  future  glory  beaming  on  them  : 
When  thus,  with  voices  join'd  in  loud  acclaim, 
Christ  in  the  Godhead  manifest  they  haii*d  : 
*'  Now.  Lord,    we  hear  and   understand   thy 

words... 
Plain  words  and  not  in  parables  involv'd. 
Now  arc  we  sure  all  knowledge  is  revealed. 
All  pow'r  committed  to  thee  from  above, 
And  without  further  question  we  believe, 
And  henceforth  know  thou  earnest  forth  from 

God." 
u  Do  ye  at  length  believe  ?"  the  Master  cry'd ; 
li  Behold,   the    hour   comes    on,   yea,     now   is 

come,  680 

When  your  strong  faith    shall   stagger  at  the 

scene 
Of  these  impending  horrors,  and  shrink  back 
Confounded  and  appall'd  ;  to  the  four  winds, 
Wide  as  your  fears  can  spread  yon,  all  shall  fly, 
And  leave  me  struggling,  with  a  storm  of  woes. 
Unfriended  and  alone.     What  did  I  say  ? 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  63 

Alone  I  cannot  be  ;  for  in  me  dwells 

The  Father  ever  present.     Let  this  thought 

Arm  you  with  constancy  to  meet  the  shock 

Of  tribulation,  and  withstand  the  powers       690 

Of  this  brief  world  ;  for,  to  your  comfort  know, 

I   have    overcome  the  world."     This  said,  he 

paus'd,  [tranc'd, 

And  sate,  whilst  all  were  hush'd,  as  one  eu- 
So  fast  the  heav'nly  vision  pour'd  upon  him  : 
Then,  with  uplifted  eyes  and  heaving  breast, 
Full  of  his  God,  this   solemn  pray,r  breath' d 

forth  : 
"  O  Father  !  give  thy  glory  to  the  Son, 
As  he  hath  glorified  thy  Name  on  earth, 
And  these,  whom  thou  hast  giv'n  him,  taught  to 

know 
Thee,  the  true  God  alone,  and  Jesus  Christ, 
Thy  Messenger  and  Advocate  with  thee 
For  lost  mankind.     Father  !  to  me  restore 
That  glory,  which  was  mine  before  all  time. 
Or  ere  the  world  was  made,  and  man  fell  oft1 
From  his  obedience,  now  at  length  redeem "d 
From  sin  by  my  atonement,  and  made  heir 
Of  life  eternal,  purchas'd  with  my  blood. 
The  act  of  mediation  is  complete  ; 
Thy  work  is  finish'd,  and  thy  name  gone  forth 
These  of  thine  election  :  Thine  they  were,  710 
To  me  thou  gav'st  them,  mid  thev  have  receiv'd 


64  CALVARY;    0PV  [book  n. 

And  kept  as  faithful  witnesses  thy  word. 
For  them  I  pray :  The  world,  which  now  I  leave, 
Hath  no  more  part  with  me  :  for  them  alone, 
Xotfor  the  world,  I  pray  ;  they  must  abide.... 
I  shall  depart,  and  be  at  peace  with  Thee. 

0  holy  Father !  keep  them  in  thy  Name 
Whole  and  entire,  link'd  in  the  bond  of  faith, 
Firm  as  I  hold  them  :  One  alone  is  lost, 

Son  of  perdition  !  him  the  prophets  saw       720 
In  their  prospective  visions,  and  foretold 
That  so  thy  Son  should  suffer  ;  but  for  these, 
They  are  unstain'd  ;  they  stand  not  in  the  guilt 
And  condemnation  of  that  wretch  accurst. 

1  pray  thee  not  to  take  them  from  the  world. 
Through  which  I  send  them  forth   as  shining 

lights  [search 

To  draw  men's  eyes  and  hearts,  and  guide  their 
To   the   bright   source  whence  thy    salvation 

beams. 
These  are  my  ministers,  as  I  am  thine  ; 
Oh  !  sanctify  them  thro'  thy  truth  !  For  them. 
And  all  through  them  converted  to  thy  word, 
Father,  I  pray.     Translate  them  in  thy  time 
From  this  unquiet  world  to  that  high  state 
Of  heav'nly  bliss,  where  they  may  dwell  with  me 
And  see  my  glory  :  So  shall  they  receive 
Thy  love,  thro'  me  transfus'd  into  their  hearts, 
And  rest  from  all  their  sorrows  in  thy  peace. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHBIST.  65 

So  spake  the  Lord,  and  with  these   gracious 
words 
His  faithful  remnant  cheer'd  ;  for  soft  they  fell 
As  heav'n's  West  dew  upon  the  thirsty  hills,  740 
And  sweet  the  healing  balm,  which  they  distill'4 
On  sorrow-wounded  souls.   Now  treach'rous  eve 
Crept  silent  on,  and  threw  her  dusky  veil 
O'er  Nature's  face,  masking  the  deeds  of  men. 
The  Saviour  rose  ;  for  in  his  conscious  breast 
A  warning  voice  had  whisper'd,  "  Up,  arise, 
Go  forth  to  death  !  One  solemn  act  remains... 
One  sacrifice  ;  'tis  now  God's  wrath  demands 
Atonement— a  whole  world's  redemption  now 
Hangs  on  the  minute's  point."  Behold  him,then, 
A  voluntary  victim,  leading  forth 
His  sad  disciples  to  the  fatal  spot, 
Where  treason  lurk'd  in  ambush  for  his  life, 
Where    stood  the  prince  of  darkness  and  his 

powers, 
Arm'd  with  commission'd  terrors  to  assail 
Him  single.. .him  forsaken. ..him  oppos'd 
To  myriads,  whilst  heav'n's  angels  soar'd  aloof9 
Trembling  spectators  of  th'  unequal  strife. 
Who  now  so  comfortless  as  God's  own  Son  ? 
His  soul  in  woes  unutterable  whelm'd,         760 
All  commerce  with  its  native  heav'n  deny'd, 
Press'd  down  to  earth;  nor  other  strength  had  hcj 
Than  in  his  human  nature  might  be  found, 

I 


66  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  u. 

To  combat  more  than  human  agonies, 

Accumulated  pangs,  which  all  the  sins 

Of  all  the  world,  from  loss  of  paradise 

By  man's  first  fall,  to  the  last  damning  page 

Of  heav'n's  black  register,  had  pil'd  upon  him, 

The  mass  of  ages.  Oh !  what  tongue  can  speak 

The  love  of  our  Redeemer  ?  And  yet  man,  770 

Ungrateful,  impious  man,  hourly  reviles 

His  Benefactor's  name... affects  the  style 

Of  sophistry  and  metaphysic  pride 

To  quibble  with  salvation,  and  renounce 

Those  guides,  that  lead  us  by  the  hand  to  heav'n. 

This  tliey  call  reason.. .this  man's  natural  right 

To  question  his  Creator,  and  in  pride 

Of  independent  dignity  reject 

Salvation,  rather  than  consent  to  own 

God's  privilege  to  save  him  by  such  means  780 

As  to  God's  wisdom  best  and  meetest  seem'd. 

Such  monsters  doth  this  teeming  earth  produce ! 

Impious  audacity !  which  dares  to  say, 

"  I  need  no  Mediator...!  disclaim 

Christ  and  his  offer'd  peace ;  'twixt  God  and  me 

I  want  no  advocate  to  plead  my  cause — 

By  my  own  rectitude  I  stand  or  fall : 

The  evangelic  volumes  I  regard 

As  fabricated  tales  of  juggling  tricks, 

Witness' d  by  none  but  partners  in  the  craft : 

Deep  read  in  pagan  story.  I  confront 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  ft 

The  sacred  records  with  the  silent  page 

Of  those,  who  register  no  strange  eclipse, 

No  noon-day  darkness,  not  one  friendly  groan 

Of  sympathizing  nature  to  attest 

Christ's  dying  hour.*' — Shut,  shut  the  Book  of 

Life- 
Go  to  the  Jews,  the  Pagans,  for  thy  creed  ; 
Go  to  the  dust,  blasphemer  ?  In  the  ear 
Of  Death  whisper  thy  doubts,  and  learn  of  him 
Thy  folly's  confutation  and  thy  doom,  800 

In  those  sad  realms,  to  which  he  shall  conduct 
Thy   trembling   soul,   when    the    arch-angel*s 

trump 
Hath  summon'd  thee  to  judgment,  and  set  ope 
The  grave,  thy  rashness  deem'd  forever  clos'd. 


END   OF    THE    SECOND  BOOK, 


CALVARY; 


OR, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST. 


BOOK  III. 


ARGUMENT  OF  THE  THIRD  BOOK. 


Iscariot,  having  separated  himself  from  Christ,  wanders  through  the 
streets  of  the  city  in  a  disconsolate  maimer,  and  at  length  arrives  at 
the  brook  Cedron  without  the  gates.  Here  he  breaks  forth  into  solilo- 
quy, in  which,  after  reviewing  his  past  situation,  he  affects  to  justify 
his  present  motives  for  betraying  his  Master  to  the  priests.  Christ  and 
his  disciples,  proceeding  to  the  Mount  of  Olives,  are  discovered  by  him 
as  they  are  passing  the  brook  in  their  way  thither,  and  Judas  resolves 
upon  availing  himself  of  the  opportunity  far  delivering  Christ  into  the 
hands  of  his  enemies.  In  the  mean  time,  the  priests  and  elders  assem- 
ble ia  the  palace  of  Caiaphas,  and  there  hold  a  council  upon  the  meas- 
ures to  be  pursued  for  the  apprehension  of  Christ  :  The  high  priest 
harangues  the  assembly  to  this  immediate  purport  :  In  the  interim,  Ju- 
das is  announced,  and  being  admitted,  makes  his  proposal  to  the  coun- 
cil:  this  produces  some  observations  on  the  part  of  Caiaphas,  and  is 
objected  toby  Nicodemus,  who,  after  delivering  his  opinion,  quits  the 
assembly.  Caiaphas  then  takes  up  the  matter  afresh,  controverts  the 
sentiments  of  Nicodemus,  and,  with  the  approbation  of  all  present,  clo- 
ses with  the  proposals  of  Judas,  and  sends  out  a  company  with  that 
traitorous  disciple  to  the  Mount  of  Olives,  there  to  apprehend  the  per- 
son of  Christ.  The  assembly  breaks  up,  and  the  hall  is  no  sooner  evac- 
uated by  the  priests  and  elders  than  their  seats  are  filled  by  Satan  and 
his  infernal  spirits.  Satan  addresses  to  them  a  congratulatory  speech  on 
the  success  of  Mammon's  temptation,  on  whom  he  bestows  many  high 
encomiums ;  an  ovation  takes  place  in  honor  of  that  daemon,  when 
Chemos  appears,  wounded  by  the  spear  of  Gabriel,  whom  he  had  en- 
countered on  the  Mount  of  Olives,  where  he  had  been  posted  as  a  spy 
upon  the  motions  of  Christ  and  his  disciples.  Satan,  enraged  at  the 
account,  sallies  forth  with  a  resolution  to  revenge  the  attack,  by  punish- 
ing the  temerity  of  Gabriel — arms  himself  for  the  occasion,  and,  after 
much  proud  vaunting  of  his  superior  prowess,  disappears,  and  the  in- 
fernal spirits  disperse. 


CALVARY,  &c. 


BOOK  III. 


THE    TREASON    OF    JUDAS. 

U  ARK  came  the  eveningon, and the pale  moon, 
Now  faintly  glimm'ring  through  a  wint'ry  cloud, 
Shed  her  dim  horrors  o'er  the  shadowy  earth  ; 
Whilst  through  the  silent  streets,  with  step  dis- 
turbed, 
And  heart  by  hellish  meditation  rent, 
The  outcast  of  the  Lord  pursu'd  his  way— 
Iscariot,  name  for  evermore  accurst. 
Onward  he  went,  unquestioned,  unobserved, 
(For  all  upon  this  solemn  night  kept  house.) 
Nor  stopped  till  forth  the  city  gates  he  came  10 
ToCedron's  brook,  whose  bubbling  current  laves 
The  olive-crown' d  Mount,  favour'd  of  Christ 
For  its  umbrageous  groves  and  silent  haunts, 
For  pray-r  and  contemplation  fit  retreat. 
Here  first,  as  one  awaken'd  to  new  thoughts, 
Starting,  lie  check'd  his  step,  and  with  a  groan. 
That  rent  his  lab'ring  bosom,  thus  broke  forth  : 
'"  Oh,  my  torn   heart  !    Oh.  soul-tormenting 
scenes  ! 


7S  C'ALVARlf;    OR,  [book  hi. 

Can  I  forget  the  blissful  hours  I've  pass'd 
Beneath  your   shades,   list'ning  the  Master's 
words  ?  20 

When,  as  he  spake  of  heav'n  and  heav'nly  joys, 
Of  righteousness  and  the  blest  sp'rits  with  God, 
Such  life  in  his  description  glow'd,  inethought 
All  paradise  was  present  to  my  view 
And  courted  me  to  enter.     Heav'n  and  earth  1 
Must  I  remember  ?  Never  man  like  him 
Could  with  such  magic  eloquence  entrance 
The  senses  of  his  hearers,  lift  the  soul 
To  heav'nly  contemplations,  and  transport 
To  thoughts  beyond  itself ;  thence  to  look  down 
Upon  this  lower  world  and  all  its  cares, 
Its  pains,  its  persecutions  with  contempt : 
Sometimes,  envelop'd  in  mysterious  schemes 
And  parables,  lie  couch'd  the  moral  truth, 
Which,  painted  on  the  memory,  left  its  tints 
Indelible  :  But  when,  with  tongue  inspir'd. 
The  fall  of  nations  he  foretold,  and  drew 
The  curtain  of  futurity  aside  ; 
When  in  the  pomp  of  numbers  he  descrlb'd 
Jerusalem  beleaguer'd  with  a  host  4Q 

Of  Gentile  foes,  and  trodden  down  to  dust, 
Her  matrons  and  her  virgins  whelm'd  in  blood. 
Or  dragg'd  to  violation,  shame  and  bondage, 
By  ruffian  spoilers;  when  his  soaring  flight, 
Spurning  the  world's  wide  compass,  scal'd  the 
skies. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  78 

And  there,  amidst  the  empyrean  fields, 

As  in  his  proper  region,  shook  the  spheres 

Of  sun,  moon,  stars,  as  with  a  master's  hand, 

And  shew'd  them  falling  in  prophetic  awe 

Of  his  own  glorious  coming  in  a  cloud  50 

With  pow'r  and  state  supernal ;  then  our  hearts 

With  sympathetic  raptures  burnt  within  us, 

And  we,  vain  mortals,  saw,  or  thought  we  saw, 

Our  own  vile  bodies  glorify'd  to  share 

In  his  triumphant  entry,  and  ourselves 

To  dignities  and  thrones  and  starry  spheres 

Exalted,  loftiest  in  the  realms  of  light. 

But  now  these  bright  illusions  are  no  more — 

Vanish'd  these  glitt'ring  scenes,  my  claims  on 

heav'n 
All  caneelPd,  and  my  hopes  a  bankrupt's  dream, 
Mocking  the  haunted  fancy  with  a  pile 
Of  visionary  wealth.     Behold  me  sham'd, 
Banish'd  his  board,  detected,  and  my  thoughts 
Turn'd  outward  to  provoke  my  brethren's  scorn. 
And  blazon  forth  his  prescience  :  Let  that  pass  ! 
Traitor  pronounc'd,  a  traitor  I  will  be  ; 
That  prophecy  at  least  shall  be  fulfill'd. 
Though,  master  of  my  will,  I  could  refute 
And  dash  his  bold  prediction,  yet  my  heart 
Ponders  revenge  more  suited  to  its  wrongs,  70 
Greater  than  such  slight  triumph  can  bestow. 
And  not  less  terrible  than  death  itself. 

K 


74  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  hi. 

This  night,  the  last  that  he  shall  walk  at  large — 
This  night  shall  be  his  triumph  or  his  fall. 
If  these  grave  elders  who  conspire  his  death — 
These  reverend  priests  revolt  not  from  the  deed, 
That  casts  on  them,  their  function  and  their  tribe, 
The  peril  of  his  blood,  why  should  my  heart 
Shrink  from  its  purpose  ?  What  have  I  to  fear 
In  act  subordinate,  in  cause  supreme,  80 

Traitor  prejudg'd,  of  uncommitted  crimes 
Arraign'd,    and   thrown   upon  the  world  con- 
demn'd  ?" 
More  he  had  said  ;  but,  like  a  serpent  coil'd, 
With  sudden  start  he  shrunk  into  himself, 
And, list* ning,  held  his  breath  to  catch  the  sound 
Of  steps,  that,  echoing  o'er  the  flinty  soil, 
Bespoke  a  company  in  near  approach  :   [heard ; 
With  these  the  Master's  well-known  voice  he 
Whereat,  like  murd'rous  Cain  when  call'dofGod, 
The  cow'ring,  conscious  outcast  slunk  aside,  90 
And  wrapp'd  his  russet  cloak  about  his  head, 
Then  darkling  stood  ;  the  holy  troop  meanwhile 
Forded  the  shallow  brook,  and  held  their  way 
Straight  to  the  Olive  Mount,  their  wonted  haunt. 
Forth  sprung  the  lurking  caitiff  from  his  watch : 
The  greedy  Mammon  rush'd  upon  his  heart, 
Glorying  that  now  he  held  them  in  his  net, 
Darkness  conspiring  with  occasions  apt 
Of  hour  and  place  to  make  his  vengeance  sure. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHBIST.  75. 

Remorse  was  dead  within  him. ..every  sense  100 
Of  virtue  lost*. .yet  in  his  coward  breast 
Such  languor,  dread,  and  cold  repugnance  dwelt, 
Scarce  could  the  breath  of  hell's  worse   fiend 

suffice 
To  blow  it  into  flame  :  Now  sudden  rage 
Impell'd  him  onward  ;  now,  with  palsied  fear 
Struck  back,  he  reel'd  and  shook  in  ev'ry  joint. 
This  Satan  saw,  and  evermore  at  hand 
To  drive  the  wav'ring  sinner  to  Ms  doom, 
Breath'd  all  his  sp'rit  upon  him  ;  direr  blast 
Cocy  tus  never  vented — the  full  tide  110 

Of  aconite  engender'd  with  his  blood, 
His  brain  set  ev'ry  fev'rish  nerve  in  play, 
And  screw'd  his  heated  fancy  to  the  pitch 
Of  daring  and  defiance  :  yet  the  wretch, 
No  less  a  traitor  to  himself  than  Christ, 
Or  ere  the  acting  of  the  dreadful  deed, 
Thus  strove,  by  sophistry,  to  gloss  it  o'er  : 
"  Why  do  I  doubt  ?  What  horrors  shake  my 
mind  ? 
Why  should  not  my  affronted  honor  stir 
Me  to  betray,  as  their  insulted  law  ISO 

Provokes  our  elders  to  destroy  their  foe  ? 
For  Moses  they,  I  for  myself  oppose  ?       [heart 
And  where's  the  wrong,  if  he,  who   knows  my 
And  all  its  meditations,  will  not  deign 
To  turn  it  from  its  purpose,  and  divert 


76  CALVARY;    OR,         [book  hi. 

The  danger  he  foreknows  ;  nay,  rather  helps 
To  lure  the  embryo  treason  into  birth  ? 
Either  his  own  free  will  makes  death  its  choice. 
And  so  becomes  accomplice  in  the  deed ; 
Or  else,  foredoom'd  to  die,  he  knows  his  hour  ; 
And  thus,  not  acting  of  ourselves,  but  ruPd 
By  strong  necessity,  we  stand  absolv'd, 
Mere  guiltless  tools  and  instruments  of  fate. 
What  then  ?  Why  let  the  scriptures  be  fulfill'd : 
Let  prophecies,  which  are  the  voice  of  God, 
Sound  out  his  knell ;  we  fight  not  against  heav'n. 
Let  Christ,  if  glory  waits  him  in  the  grave, 
Descend  into  the  dust  and  seek  it  there  : 
If  his  soul  covets  to  make  league  with  death, 
And  dwell  in  consort  with  corruption's  worm, 
What  time  more  apt  for  death  than  this  dark 

hour, 
linage  of  death  itself?  And  who  so  fit 
As  God's  high-priest,  the  temple's  minister, 
To  put  life's  intervening  veil  aside, 
And  usher  him  to  glory  ?  I,  meanwhile, 
His  humble  harbinger,  will  go  before         [road 
T'  announce  his  coming,  and  make  clear  the 
That  leads  to  death,  the  goal  of  his  ambition. 
Yet  how  if  all  this  tame  indifference 
Be  but  a  feint  to  draw  the  world  about  him,  450 
And  then  amaze  them  with  some  grand  display 
Of  wonder-working  power  ?  And  who  can  tell 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  77 

How  far  his  hand  miraculous  may  stretch, 
Who  from  the  tomb  pluck'd  forth  the  fest'ring 

corpse 
Of  shrouded  Lazarus,  three  days  in  earth, 
And  bade  him  live  again  ?  Stupendous  act ! 
This  we  beheld,  and  hail'd  him  Lord  of  Life  ! 
But  still  the  unconverted  Jews  stood  off, 
And  deem'd  us  witnesses  of  slight  account, 
Weak,  cred'lous  men,  first  dup'd,   and   thence 
-  become  160 

Associates  in  imposture.     What  remains 
But  instantly  to  put  my  thoughts  in  act, 
And  yield  him  up  to  those,  who,  in  th'  attempt 
Succeeding,  vindicate  their  disbelief... 
Failing,  abide  the  shame  of  their  defeat  ? 
In  this  or  that  opinion  there  must  be 
A  dangerous  error  :  to  persist  were  fatal  : 
This  night  dispels  all  doubt.     If  he  be  Christ, 
He  lives  confest,  and  triumphs  over  death  ; 
If  man,  he  falls  unpitied  and  abjur'd."  170 

Tims  for  foul  deeds  pretending  fair  excuse, 
The  caitiff  wretch,  on  trait'rous  errand  bent, 
Back  through  the  city  gates  pursu'd  his  way, 
And  to  his  nightly  assignation  hied. 

Perch'd  on  the  summit  of  the  sacred  Mount, 
Should'ring  God's  temple,  a  proud  palace  stood: 
There  dwelt  the  sovereign  pontiff,  and  this  night 
Held  solemn  convocation  and  consult, 


78  CALVARY;    OR,         [bo.kiii. 

Not  for  God's  glory — other  cares  had  they... 
Cares  nearer  to  their  selfish  hearts. ..concerns 
Heav'n  had  no  part  in... impious,  dire  cabals, 
How  to  prevent  the  day-spring  from  on  high, 
How  by  Christ's  revelation,  and  his  acts 
Miraculous,  just  dawning  on  the  world ; 
Aforetime  wrapt  in  darkness  black  as  death, 
Best  veil  for  their  hypocrisy  and  craft. 
In  their  great  hall  of  council,  there  in  ranks, 
Precedencies,  and  dignities  dispos'd... 
Doctors,  and  long-rob'd  pharisees,  and  scribes, 
And  bearded  elders  met ;  senate,  to  whom    190 
For  machinations,  plots,  and  secret  wiles, 
Rome's  purple  conclave  stoops.     High  over  all 
On  throne  pontifical,  in  robes  of  state, 
With  sacred  ephod  girt  of  various  hues,    [gems, 
And  breast-plate  glittering  bright  with  mystic 
Mitre-crown'd  Caiaphas,  the  temple's  chief, 
Exalted  sate  :  The  sanhedrim  was  full. 
All  came,  whom  lust  of  power,  or  bigot  zeal, 
Or  enmity  to  Christ  rous'd  to  the  call ; 
Mouth-worshippers  of  God,  agents  of  hell     200 
In  heart,  and  hypocrites  abhorr'd  of  Christ, 
To  public  scorn  held  up  and  pictur'd  out 
As  rebel  husbandmen,  who  basely  slew 
Their  Lord's  commission'd  Son.     Scarce  was 

there  one, 
Whose  galled  conscience  had  not  felt  the  sting 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  79 

Of  some  keen  truth  extorted  from  the  lips 
Of  the  else-humble  Jesus,  meek  to  all 
But  the  proud  pharisee  or  cav'lling  scribe... 
To  knaves,  who  thought  by  cunning  to  outwit 
Wisdom  itself,  and  snare  him  in  his  talk ;     £10 
To  hypocrites,  who  fasted  oft  with  sad 
And  woe-worn  faces  to  be  seen  of  men, 
Or  such  as  made  long  pray'rs  for  a  display 
Of  righteousness,  and  vaunted  their  good  deeds, 
Mocking  their  conscience  and  insulting  heav'n : 
To  these,  in  all  the  majesty  of  truth, 
Frowning  he  spake,  nor  spar'd  he  for  rebuke 
Severe,  indignant ;  many  a  time  and  oft 
To  their  whole  sect  he  had  denounced  woe  ; 
Woe  trembled  on  their  heads :    What  wonder, 

then,  220 

If  thus  combin'd  by  interest  to  oppose 
His  spreading  glories,  their  envenom'd  hearts 
Rankled  with  envy,  hatred,  and  revenge  ? 
Nor  were  there  wanting  to  their  great  divan 
Those,  who  can  work  unseen  within  the  heart, 
Dark  ministers,  who  know  to  touch  the  springs 
And  cords,  whose  movements  can  convulse  the 

soul 
With  furious  passions,  bursting  from  their  mine, 
Like  sulph'rous  fires  that  tear  the  quaking  earth. 
Satan  himself  was  there  ;  for  at  this  hour     330 
He  and  his  host  Irad  furlough  upon  earth, 


30  CALVARY;    OR,         [book  m. 

Daemons  of  blood,  ambition,  envy,  strife, 
Rang'd  the  vex'd  world  at  large.     Loud  were 

their  tongues, 
And  fiery  hot  their  zeal  against  the  Lord, 
Whose  miracles,  resounding  through  the  land, 
Rung  in  their  ears  the  downfall  of  their  pow'r, 
Ill-omen'd  knell.      "  Brethren  !  'tis   time    to 

rouse," 
Cry'd  Caiaphas,  and  started  from  his  throne 
Furious  as  Korah,  when  at  his  tent  door 
With  his  rebellious  company  he  stood,  240 

And,  waving  high  his  censer,  call'd  aloud 
To  mutiny  against  Moses  :  So  now  call*d, 
With  voice  as  loud,  and  deeper  plung'd  in  crime 
Than   these  who  sunk  outright,    thi:  second 

priest, 
This  worse  revolter  against  God  himself, 
In  his  own  Son  reflected  ;  from  his  state, 
High  o'er  their  heads  exalted,  lie  look'd  down 
On  all  beneath  ;  then,  with  uplifted  eyes 
And  hands  extended,  as  in  act  to  rend 
His  robes  pontifical — "Yes,  sacred  seers,"  250 
Again  he  cry'd,  "  yes,  venerable  priests, 
Elders,  and  reverend  sages  of  our  law, 
'Tis  more  than  time  to  call  your  vengeance  up ; 
Awake  !  ye  sleep  too  long.    For  me,  your  slave, 
Servant  of  servants — me,  by  how  much  more 
In  place  exalted  so  much  more  in  heart 


I 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  81 

Abas'd,  as  meritless  of  such  high  state, 
I  were  content  to  cast  these  robes  aside, 
Pluck  oft* this  beard,  and  on  this  mitred  head, 
Unworthy  of  such  honors,  scatter  dust  S60 

And  ashes,  might  such  penitence  avert 
The  shame  that  for  my  sins  is  falling  on  you, 
And  quell  the  madd'ning  faction  now  afloat, 
Since  this  bold  Bethlemite  hath  started  up 
To  mock  the  church  of  God.     Shall  it  be  said 
That  for  my  punishment  these  evils  light 
On  you,  the  righteous  ? — that  in  my  day  rose 
This  innovator  to  conspire  your  fall, 
To  broach  new  doctrines,  and  unhinge  the  faith 
Of  the  still  wav'ring  multitude  ?  If  I,  270 

If  I  am  in  the  crime — if  in  your  thoughts 
My  negligence  hath  foster'd  this  revolt, 
Make  me  your  sacrifice... thrust  me  from  hence, 
For  this  high  place  unfit  ;  set  up  your  cross, 
And  there  exalt  me  :  But  if  I  am  clear, 
(And  this  your  looks  encourage  me  to  hope) — 
If  Christ  not  Caiapiias  deserves  the  death, 
Why  do  you  pause  ?  What  terror  holds  you  back  ? 
Time-honor'd  rabbi,  elders,  sages,  guides 
And  masters  of  our  Israel !  ye  by  whom      280 
Our  synagogues  are  taught,  of  God's  own  law 
Interpreters  ordain'd,  which  of  your  grave 
And  reverend  council  will  at  once  unfold 
To  my  yet  faithless  ears  the  mighty  spell 

L 


82  CALVARY;    01?,  [book  hi. 

By  which  this  Jesus  works  ?  Who  will  expound 
This  prodigy  that  sets  the  crowd  agape... 
This  more  than  man,  of  whom  the  people  bruit 
These  more  than  human  doings?  You  are  dumb ; 
None  offers  a  reply  ;  for  none  will  say 
This  wisdom  and  these  mighty  works  accord 
"With  one  so  mean  of  birth.. .with  Joseph's  Son, 
A  base  mechanic.     Fitter  task  for  him 
To  use  his  father's  craft,  and  humbly  ply 
The  workman's  tools,  than  in  the  temple  sit 
Disputing  with  our  doctors  ;  or  withdrawn, 
As  late  the  Baptist,  to  some  desart  mount, 
There  sit  in  sullen  dignity  enthron'd, 
And  from  his  rocky  theatre  declaim         [heard 
To  list'ning   thousands.     Here  be    some  have 
His  doctrines. ..many  have  endur'd  his  taunts,  300 
And  though  in  wise  and  weli-pois'd  minds  like 

yours 
Such  meteors  breed  no  terror,  yet  they  draw 
The  gazing  vulgar,  and  so  rank  a  taint     [doubt 
Runs   through   th'  infected  fold,   that   much    I 
If  half  the  Hock  of  Israel  be  not  touch'd  ; 
So  diligent  is  he  to  spread  the  plague — 
So  careless  we  to  stem  it.     If  his  word 
Be  suffer' d  thus  to  overturn  our  law, 
The  monument  of  ages,  then,  alas  ! 
We've  seen  the  last  of  these  solemnities  :     310 
Before  this  night  returns  there'll  not  be  found 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  83 

Or  lamb  for  sacrifice,  or  priest  to  slay, 
0<-  temple  to  receive  our  Paschal  rites  ;  [world, 
Rome,  whose   ambition    grasps  the    conquer'd 
Shall  plant  her  eagles  on  our  holy  mount, 
And  Jupiter  usurp  Jehovah's  shrine." 

He  paus'd,  yet  stood  as  one  in  act  to  speakt 
Struggling   for   words,  which  furious    passion 

choak'd 
And  .stifled  on  his  tongue  ;  a  stormy  cloud 
Huns;  on  his  brow,  his  visage  ghastly  pale,    320 
Madd'ning  with  rage  he  stampt  and  shook  his 

robe. 
As  when  the  Delphic  prophetess,  convuls'd 
And  foaming  on  her  tripod,  sets  aghast 
The  scar'd  enthusiasts,  who  believe  her  fill'd 
And  fighting  with  the  God  oracular  ; 
So  through  the  hall  of  council  silence  reign'd, 
Whilst  expectation  turn'd  ail  eyes  and  ears 
On  their  wrapt  prophet ;  till  the  word  being  giv'n, 
That  one  of  Christ's  disciples  stood  without, 
And  instant  audience  crav'd,  that  awful  name 
Their  spell-bound  faculties  at  once  set  free  ; 
Instant  loud  murmurs  fill'd  the  vaulted  roofj 
Like  the  deep  roar  of  subterranean  tides, 
Whose  eddies  undermine  the  cavern'd  shores 
Of  sea-girt  Mona  or  Bermuda's  isle. 
This  past,  the  senate's  chief  resum'd  his  throne  ; 
Whence  from  his  state  inclining  lie  gave  sign 


84  CALVARY;    OH,         [book  hi. 

For  silence,  and  commanded  to  admit 
Their  unexpected  suitor  ;  at  the  word 
Wide  flew  the  doors  apart,  and  there  behold, 
With  cloak  t'  the  knee  tucked  up,   and  staff  in 

hand, 
Iscariot,  caitiff  viler  than  the  worst 
That  e'er  wore  nilsjrim's  sanctimonious  garb 
In  after  times,  when  fierce  crusading  zeal 
Sent  forth  its  wandering  eremites  to  put 
The  murd'rous  sword  in  meek  Religion's  hand, 
The  cross,  on  which  our  patient  Lord  expir'd, 
Their  badge  of  victory,  and  signal  made 
For  their  destroying  armies,  lur'd  to  war 
With  pardons  earn'd  in  fields  of  carnage,  fought 
For  God's  pretended  glory,  as  if  (dire  hope  !) 
Rivers  of  blood  could  waft  their  souls  to  heav'n. 
Founder  of  these,  and  prototype  of  all, 
Who  dy'd  the  cross  with  blood,  Iscariot  stood 
Full  of  the  fiend,  and  cast  around  on  all 
His  haggard  eyes,  that  augur'd  vengeful  ire 
Andfrauddeep-broodinginhis  treach'rous  heart : 
When  after  pause  now  summon'd  to  expound 
His  purpose,  whether  by  his  Master  sent, 
Or  self-impell'd,  thus  Mammon's  convert  spake: 

"  Fathers  of  Israel,  patrons  of  our  law, 
And  chiefly  thou,  great  priest,  vicar  of  God, 
And  faithful  shepherd  of  the  remnant  sav'd 
From  Abraham's  scattered  flock!  I  muse  not, lords, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  85 

That  you  are  cast  in  wonder  to  behold 
Me  standing  in  this  place — me,  to  your  cause 
Unfriendly  deem'd,  and,  which  to  all  is  known, 
Nor  on  my  part  deny'd,  one  of  the  Twelve, 
And  follower  of  Jesus.     But,  grave  sirs, 
I  do  adjure  you  by  your  love  to  truth,  370 

No  longer  wear  this  jealous  eye  upon  me, 
Than  to  your  patient  ears  I  shall  unfold, 
Why  hither  I  am  come,  not  as  a  thief 
To  steal  into  your  councils,  spy  them  out 
And  after  blazon  them,  but  in  fair  faith 
And  plain  sincerity,  with  no  double  heart 
To  make  confession  sure,  and  give  my  life 
A  pledge  into  your  hands.     Stand  not  amaz'd, 
As  if  it  were  a  thing  impossible 
That  Christ's  disciple  should  not  be  his  friend. 
Mine  hath  been  toilsome  husbandry,  my  lords  ; 
And  none  but  bitter  fruits  have  I  reap'dfrom  it, 
Fruits  of  repentance.     Weary  days  and  nights 
I've  minister'd  to  him  without  reward, 
And  weary  miles  full  many  travelled  o'er, 
Fainting  and  pinch'd  with  hunger  ;  then  at  night, 
When  the  wild  creatures  of  the  earth  find  rest, 
And  covert  in  their  holes,  houseless  have  watch'd 
Amidst  the  shock  of  elements,  and  brav'd 
Storms  which  the  mail'd  rhinoceros  did  not  dare 
TJnshelter'd  to  abide.     Sometimes  on  sea, 
Lash'd  by  the  surging  waves,  I've  toil'd  for  life, 


86  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  hi. 

Whilst  he  sate  sleeping,  reckless  of  the  gale  : 
Rescu'd  from  these  (for  I  of  force  confess 
His  pow'r  is  ahsolute)  and  safe  on  shore, 
My  labors  ceas'd  not  with  the  scene  ;  new  toils, 
New  tasks  succeeded  :  Now  to  rocks  and  caves, 
To  sandy  wilds,  or  wheresover  else 
The  Spirit  led  and  desolation  reign'd, 
His  wandering  steps  1  follow'd  ;  yes,  his  steps.., 
But  at  what  distance  from  his  heart  he  held  me, 
Bear  witness,  mem'ry  !  Others  had    his  heart, 
Peter  and  James  and  John  ;  to  them  he  breath-d 
The  secrets  of  his  soul — on  them  he  shower'd 
His  promises  ;  of  these  he  made  no  thrift — 
These  he  abounded  in  ;  to  me  he  gave 
What  he  had  least  in  store,  a  barren  purse, 
And  bade  me  bear  it ;  no  hard  task  I  own, 
For  it  was  light  as  beggary  could  make  it, 
But  office  most  ignoble.     Here  perchance    410 
Your  wisdom  would  demand  of  me  a  cause, 
Why  I  endur'd  these  slights  year  after  year, 
And  still  toil'd  on  in  such  a  thankless  service  : 
What  fascination  and  what  spell,  you'll  ask, 
Both  this  man  work  with,  so  to  charm  the  mind 
And  lure  it  on  through  mortifying  toils, 
Sorrows,  and  pains,  and,  worse  than  these,  con- 
tempts, 
Yet  hold  it  still  enchain'd,  slave  to  his  will  ? 
Most  equal  judges,  I  must  here  submit 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  S7 

My  weakness  to  your  censure,  and  refer      420 
My  cause  to  mercy,  or,  in  self-defence, 
Conjure  you  for  a  moment  to  descend 
From  your  high  state,  and  to  my  humhle  place 
And  peasant  thoughts   accord  your  own  great 

minds. 
My  lords,  I  neither  mean  to  varnish  o'er 
My  own  too  feehle  nature,  nor  to  smooth 
The  rough  sincerity  of  truth,  through  fear 
Or  ilattery  of  those,  rfore  whom  I  speak. 
If  Jesus  works  by  spells,  I  know  them  not ; 
Pray'rs,  but  not  incantations,  I  have  heard  :  430 
If  these  be  charms,  they  are  no  charms  for  devils; 
Yet  such  he's  charg'd  withal :  Neither  by  league 
With  Beelzebub,  as  some  have  gravely  urg'd, 
Nor  art  Samaritan,  nor  else  by  imp 
Or  genius,  as  the  heathen  loudly  vouch 
Of  their  fam'd  Socrates,  do  I  believe 
His  miracles  are  wrought :  Alas  !  alas  ! 
Which  of  hell's  ministers  will  be  suborn'd 
To  work  his  own  confusion  ?  No,  they  shrink. 
They  tremble  ;  at  his  bidding  they  come  forth 
From  men  possest...they  vanish  to  the  winds... 
They  sink  into  the  pit  from  whence  they  sprung. 
I  am  a  man,  my  lords,  not  over-prone 
To  rash  credulity,  nor  apt  to  veer 
With  ev'ry  breath  of  doctrine,  and  I- ve  heard 
A  voice,  that  sways  the  elements;,  command 


88  CALVABY;    OR,         [book  in. 

Tlie  springs  of  health,   making  maim'd  nature 

whole, 
Nay,  life  itself  return  into  the  trunk 
Which  it  had  left,  and  give  a  second  pulse 
To  the  cold  heart  of  death  :  This  to  have  seen, 
And  not  to  stand  in  reverence  of  the  Pow'r 
That  wrought  these  miracles,  were  a  degree 
Of  apathy  above  my  nature's  reach." 

"No  more  !"  cry'd  Caiphas,  "  no  more  of  this! 
You  much  abuse  our  patience  with  this  talk. 
Here  is  no  place  to  sound  Christ's  praises  forth  ; 
We  are  not  met  to  recognize  his  pow'r, 
And  back  his  daring  claims  ;  but  to  chastise 
Imposture.. .to  assert  our  sacred  law, 
And  vindicate  the  majesty  of  Heav'n. 
You  tell  us  you  are  wearied  with  the  tasks 
Of  a  hard  Master ;  quit  him  then,  and  earn 
A  better  service — earn  a  rich  reward 
By  yielding  him  to  justice.     You  well  know 
His  haunts,  his  privacies,  his  darkling  hours. 
When,  without  hazard  of  a  public  brawl, 
We  may  make  lawful  seizure  for  the  state 
Of  his  attainted  person  :  On  this  point, 
Ho  you  will  order  your  discourse  aright, 
You  may  speak  freely  ;  of  his  praise  no  more." 

To  him  tli'  Apostate — "If  from  my  forc'd  lips, 
Unwilling  witnesses  although  they  be,  [utter, 
Truth  wrings  this  praise,  the  last  which  they  will 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  89 

Suffer  thus  far  in  candor,  and  let  pass 

These  words  in  justice  to  a  Master's  fame, 

Whom  I  renounce,  and  with  an  oath  devote 

To  wrath... to  punishment... to  deatli  itself, 

Jf  death  you  doom.  But  oh!  most  reverend  lords. 

It  is  not  as  a  false  and  juggling  cheat... 

A  dealer  with  familiars  I  present  him  480 

To  your  just  judgment:  Wretches  vile  as  these 

Would  hut  disgrace  your  wrath  and  my  revenge. 

But  take  liim  as  a  victim  from  my  hands 

Richer  than  hecatombs  of  vulgar  blood,. 

A  sacrifice  for  God's  high-priest  to  make, 

Whilst  all  earth's  sceptred   monarchs    stood  a~ 

round 
To  gaze  upon  the  work.     Be  not  deceiv?d: 
I  know  the  jeopardy  in  which  I  stand, 
Yet  I  will  on  ;  in  me  is  no  delay  : 
This  night,  this  hour,  this  instant  I  am  yours 
To  trace  him  to  his  haunts. ..to  be  your  guide 
And  marshal  you  to  vengeance.     But  beware  t 
Let  them  be  chosen  men  you  send,  approv'd 
And  constant,  tho*  the  lieav'ns  shall  rain  down 
fire,  [call'd 

And  the  earth  rock   beneath  them :    He,  who 
The  dead  anatomy  to  life,  can  well 
Make  corpses  of  the  living." — Here  the  voice 
Of  one,  who  nearest  to  the  throne  had  place, 
Cut  short  the  traitor's  speech  :  Of  high  renown 

M 


00  CALYARY;    OR,         [book  in, 

Was  lie  now  rising,  Nicodemus,  known       500 
To  after-ages  as  the  nightly  guest 
Of  Jesus,  and  his  converse  with  our  Lord 
In  holy  writ  recorded :  Grave  he  was, 
A  Pharisee  and  ruler  of  the  Jews, 
Yet  not  of  soul  vindictive  like  the  rest, 
Nor  aspect  arrogant ;  when  thus  he  spake  : 
"  I  eall  the  time  nl  is  pent,  that  is  bestow'd 
On  loud-tongu'd  orators,  whose  art  it  is 
To  launch  their  hearers  upon  passion's  tide, 
And  drive  them  on,  by  gusts  of  windy  words, 
A  giddy,  desperate  course  to  rocks  and  shoals, 
Which,  steer'd  hy  sage  experience,  they  had 

shunn'd. 
Such  shipwreck  of  our  wisdom  we  might  make, 
Should  we  our  better  senses  now  permit 
To  take  improv'dent  counsel  of  our  ears, 
By  this  high-ton'ddeclaimer  thus  assail' d  ; 

1  pray  you,  therefore,  carry  back  your  thoughts 
To  times  foregone,  when  prophets  have  arose 
And  boasted  mighty  works,  which,  being  done 
Of  man's  device  and  cunning,  came  to  nought. 
So  will  it  be  with  Jesus,  if  his  spirit 

Be  not  of  God  ;  time  will  o'ertake  deceit, 
If  time  be  let  to  run  ;  but  cut  it  short 
By  death's  rash  stroke,you  cover  him  with  glory. 
And  from  his  ashes  raise  a  mightier  name 
Than  living  he  had  reach'd,  with  all  the  aid;* 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  91 

Of  artifice  to  back  him.     Give  me,  heav'n  ! 
That  tolerating  policy,  which  shews 
No' bitterness  in  speculative  points. 
Disdaining?  from  mv  heart  what  this  man  says..* 
A  traitor  says,  who  comes  to  sell  his  Master, 
My  sentence  never  shall  affect  the  life 
Of  this  or  any  other  man,  accus'd 
On  vague  presumptions  ;  nor  will  I  say,  Bid 
Till  I  have  that  in  proof,  which  merits  death. 
For  if  this  Jesus  vaunts  himself  to  be 
"What  he  is  not,  God  will  confute  his  pride  ; 
But  if  with  pow?r  divine  he  acts  and  speaks, 
Commission'd  to  some  awful,  unseen  end,  [we 
Shall  man  contend  with  God  ?  Vain  strife  !  shall 
Fall  off  from  our  great  origin,  the  faith 
Of  our  blest  father  Abraham  ? — shall  we, 
Sore  smitten  for  our  trespasses,  cut  short 
And  wasted  to  a  remnant — we,  on  whom 
The  guiltless  blood  of  all  the  prophets  rests, 
Send  this  man  up  to  heav'n  to  cry  against  us, 
And,  to  a  burthen  heavier  than  enough, 
Add  more  and  weightier  guilt  than  all  the  rest  ? 
Heav'n-s  grace  foresend !    You  have   my  con- 
science, lords  ; 
I  leave  it  to  your  thoughts  :    I  stand  absolv'd.'' 
He  said  ;  and,  conscious  that  his  words  were 
lost 
Upon  obdurate  hearts,  departed  thence, 


92  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  iii. 

So  warn'd  of  God,  and  from  the  gulph  escap'd 
Of  that  night's  dire  perdition,  wherein  all, 
Save  him  alone,  were  lost.     So  in  the  wreck 
Of  some  great  admiral,  full  fraught  for  war, 
When  his  tall  vessel  splits,  and  the  bold  crew 
Plunge  quick  into  th'  abyss,  heav'n  sometimes 

deigns, 
By  wondrous  providence,  to  snatch  one  life 
From  the  devouring  waves,  and  waft  him  horns 
A  solitary  relict,  there  to  tell 
God's  mercies  and  his  sad  companions'  fate. 

Him  thus  departing  the  proud  pontiff  ey'd 
"With  look  malign,  and  to  these  taunts  gave  vent: 

"  Weak  is  that  cause,  whose  advocate    flies 
from  it : 
I  pause  to  see  if  any  here  will  follow.  [peal. 

None  moves,  none  speaks,  none  seconds  his  ap« 
'Tis  well  !  One  only  convert  to  our  foe... 
One  patron  of  his  cause  this  senate  held. 
And  holds  no  longer.     Vanish'd,  flown,  escap'd ! 
One  heart,   one  mind,    one  voice  now  rules  the 

whole. 
For  me,  I  Uor  opinion  shift  nor  place  ; 
Faithful,  I  shrink  from  neither.     You  have  heard 
What  this  wise  elder  counsels  ;  he  hath  left 
His  conscience  as  a  legacy  behind  him  : 
Let  him,  who  loves  the  giver,  take  the  gift  j 
t)  for  such  part  as  to  my  share  may  fall* 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  93 

>corn  to  engraft  that  scion  on  my  heart, 

^hich,  if  admitted,  might  impart  the  seeds 

)f  treason  and  apostacylike  his.  580 

rill  cold  and  hot  agree — till  selfish  fear 

^.nd  temporizing  maxims  coalesce 

rVith  patriot  zeal  for  Israel  and  firm  faith 

n  God's  reveal'd  decrees,  his  thoughts  and  mine 

kVill  never  mix,  and  the  attempt  to  join 

rheir  jarring  elements  could  only  serve 

ro  make  this  breast  a  field  of  mental  war. 

klurk,  brethren,  mark  how  this  man  contravenes 

tour  antient,  just,  retaliating  law. 

closes  said,  "  Eye  for  eye,  and  tooth  for  tooth  !'* 

>o  is  revenge  a  virtue  :  By  this  rule 

tesus  must  die  ;  for  who  puts  out  the  law, 

5uts  out  the  light  of  Israel,  stabs  the  life — 

V.nd  life  for  life  is  justice  upon  record. 

rhis  ordinance  our  absent  elder  spurns  ; 

le  holds  at  nought  our  ancient  equity, 

V.nd  sets  new  doctrines  forth  ;  tells  us,  forsooth* 

rhat  we  must  wait  the  time.i.wait  till  the  light 

Of  Israel  be  extinct,  and  leave  redress 

For  those,  who  without  eyes  can  spy  it  out.  600 

Such  counsels  would  make  cowards  of  us  all, 

Rebels  to  God,  deserters  from  the  faith, 

rraitors  to  Israel.     Can  I  wear  these  robes^ 

^.iid  wear  a  heart  within  so  vile,  so  base  ? 

fear  them  away,  uncover  me  to  shame* 


94  CALVARY ;    OB,  [book  lit* 

Make  me  the  scorn  of  men,  if,  thus  array'd 
And  deck'd  in  outside  honors,  I  am  found 
False  to  that  King',  whose  standard  I  support. 
NTo,  venerable  sages,  if  your  rule 
Were  short  to  teach  us  what  our  duty  is,        610 
The  very  heathen  would  inform  us  of  it. 
The  Reman,  soldier,  who  deserts  his  postj 
Or  sleeping,  suffers  a  surprise,  shall  die  ; 
But  we,  with  God's  own  armies  in  our  charge— *■ 
We,  whose  commander  is  the  Lord  of  Hosts, 
Should  we  be  found  thus  criminal,  what  death... 
What  doom,  more  terrible  than  death  itself, 
Can  recompense  such  treason?  Forth  then,  lords! 
Draw  out  an  armed  band,  and  send  the m  forth  ; 
Behold  a  ready  leader  !  Time  yet  serves  ;    G2G 
This  night  no  stir,  no  stragglers  in  our  streets, 
To  shake  the  cityrs  peace  ;  Jesus  secur'd 
And  hither  brought,  a  largess  I  decree 
To  ail  concerned  ;  to  Judas  a  reward 
Befitting  us  to  give,  him  to  receive." 

No  more  ;  loud  acclamations  shook  the  hall ; 
Th'  assembly  rose- — the  traitor  bow'd  assent ; 
A  band  of  ruffians,  arm'd  with  swords  and  staves, 
Forth  issued,  with  Iscariot  at  their  head, 
And  to  the  Olive  Mountain  bent  their  course. 

Oh,  hour  accurst !  Oh,  all  ye  stars  of  heav'n  ! 
And  thou  pale  waning  moon,  etherial  lights, 
First-born  of  Nature,  look  nor.  ve  chaste  fires. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  95 

Upon  this  monster-breeding  earth  !  bnt  quench 
Your  conscious  lamps,  and  whelm  this  murderous 

crew 
In  darkness  black  as  their  own  damning  plot. 
And  thou,  conductor  of  the  Stygian  hand, 
Vile  hypocrite,  what  fiend  inspired  the  thought 
To  hail  thy  Master  with  the  kiss  of  peace, 
And  so  betray  him  ?  Wretch,  the  time  will  come, 
When,  racked  with  horror,  lost  to  every  hope, 
Thine  agonizing  soul  shall  rue  this  deed...     , 
Curse  its  birth-hour,  and,  whilst  thy  Master  soars 
To  he  arm,  triumphant  over  death  and  sin, 
Thou  shalt  sink  howling  to  the  depths  of  hell. 
Now  break  your  synod  up,  ye  envious  priests, 
Elders,    and  scribes  !  prepare   your   hardened 

hearts 
To  judge  the  Lord  of  Life  !  convene  your  spies 
To  forge  false  witness,  and  make  smooth  the  way 
To  man's  redemption  by  the  blood  of  Christ, 
The  very  Paschal  Lamb,  whom,  by  the  type 
Of  this  night's  sacrifice,  ye  shadow 'd  forth. 
Blind  unbelieving  prophets  as  ye  are. 
Fit  hour  ye  chose,  ye  murd'rers,  to  embrue 
Your  cursed  hands  in  that  pure  Victim's  blood. 
Peace-offering  for  the  sins  of  lost  mankind. 
Hence  to  your  homes  !  there  meditate  new  plots-; 
The  fiends  shall  be  your  helpers  ;  to  your  fcho'ts 
Present  though  not  to  siajht.thev  swarm  around, 


96  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  m, 

Now  here,  now  there,  now  hovering  overhead, 
Where,  as  your  enmity  to  Christ  breaks  forth. 
And  your  blaspheming  voices  fill  the  roof, 
Like  streaming  vapours  from  sulphureous  lakes. 
Joyous  they  catch  the  welcome  sounds,  and  fan 
With  clapping  wings  the  pestilential  air, 
Applauding  as  they  soar.     Now  clear  the  hall ; 
Yield  up  your  seats,  ye  substituted  fiends  ; 
Hence,  minor  daemons,  give  your  masters  place  ! 
And  hark  !  the  King  of  Terrors   speaks  the 
word ; 
He  calls  his  shadowy  princes. ..they  start  forth, 
Expand  themselves  to  sight,  and  throng  the  hall? 
A  synod  of  infernals.     Forms  more  dire 
Imagination  shapes  not,  when  the  wretch, 
Whom  conscience   haunts  in  the  dead   hour  of 

night, 
Whilst  all  is  dark  and  silent  round  his  bed, 
Sees  hideous  phantoms  in  his  fev'rish  dreams. 
That  stare  him  into  madness,  with  fix'd  eyes 
And  threat'ning  faces  floating  in  his  brain. 
The  ghostly  monarch  mounts  the  vacant  throne  j 
Gives  sign  for  order  ;  the  superiors  sit, 
Each  as  his  stellar  atribute  gives  rank 
And  place  peculiar— the  untitled  stand 
Circling  their  Lucifer,  their  fallen  sun  : 
He  of  his  state  more  jealous,  as  in  heart 
Conscious  of  faded  glory,  in  the  midst 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  »7 

INfow  rising  after  many  a  hard  essay 
To  wreathe  his  war-worn  lace  into  a  smile, 
SemMance  at  least  of  joy,  at  length  with  voice, 
Screw'd  to  the  pitch  of  triumph,  vaunting  cries  : 
"Pow'rs  and  dominions,  lords  by  vict'ry's  right 
Of  earth  and  man,  now  from  his  Maker  won 
By  overthrow  of  heav'n's  last  Champion  giv'n 
In  God's  own  city,  battle  fairly  gain'd 
On  hostile  ground,  his  Sion's  sacred  mount, 
Warriors,  your   king   applauds   you :    Thanks, 

brave  friends  ; 
Now  shall  your  temples  with  loud  paeans  ring... 
Your  vindicated  altars  and  your  groves 
Exhale  rich  clouds  of  incense,  steaming  forth 
From  od'TOiis  gums  ;  your  statues  gaily  crown'd 
With  garlands — every  trophy,  that  the  art    700 
Of  painting  or  of  sculpture  can  bestow, 
Shall  be  Lung  round  to  decorate  your  shrines  ; 
Your  oracles  henceforth  shall  find  a  vo?ce, 
Which  future  Christs  shall  never  put  to  silence, 
And  nations  from  your  lips  shall  ask  their  fate. 
This  day  to  all  posterity  shall  be  # 

Sacred  to  games,  processions,  triumphs,  feasts, 
Andlaurel-crown'd bards  shall  hymn  your  praise. 
But  sure  no  spirit  of  etherial  mould, 
(For  such  of  right  ye  are,)  will  so  forget      710 
His  native  dignity  as  to  repine, 
Or  gloat  with  envy,  if  I  now  deman4 

N 


98  CALYAPY;    OB,  [book  in. 

Your  tribute  of  especial  praise  to  him, 

Whom  '.our joint  suffrages  deputed  first 

To  this  important  embassy;  a  spirit 

Our  subterranean  empire  cannot  mate 

For  high  authority  and  potent  sway  [forth  ! 

Overman's   subjected  heart :    Mammon,  stand 

Stand  forth,  thou  prosperous,   ricji,   persuasive 

pow'r, 
"Worshipped  of  all,  great  idol  of  the  world  !  720 
May  fortune  on  thy  patient  labours  smile, 
Thou  persevering  deity  !  Pursue 
Thy  darling  metal  thro'  earth's  central  veins — 
Ransack  her  womb  for  mines  ;  send  forth  thy 

slaves 
To  undiscover'd  realms,  and  bid  them  sap 
Potosi's  glittering  mountains  for  their  ore  : 
Pull  down  her  golden  temples... strip  her  kings... 
Pack  them  with  tortures...wring  their  secrets  out 
By  slow-consuming  fires. ..lay  nature  waste... 
Let  nothing  mortal  breathe  upon  the  soil     730 
That  covers  gold.     All  hell  applauds  thy  zeal, 
And  all  hell's  engines  shall  assist  thy  search." 
He  said,  and  lo  !  from  either  side  the  throne 
Upon  the  signal  a  seraphic  choir 
In  equal  hands  came  forth  ;  the  minstrels  strike 
Their  golden  harps  ;  swift   o'er  the    sounding 


strings 


Their  flying  fingers  sweep,  whilst  to  the  strain 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHEIST.  99 

3Ielodious  voices,  though  to  heav'nly  airs 
Attun'd  no  longer,  still  in  sweet  accord 
Echo  the  festive  song,  now  full  combin'd      740 
Pouring  the  choral  torrent  on  the  ear, 
In  parts  responsive,  now  warbling  by  turns 
Their  sprightly  quick  tlivisions,  swelling  now 
Through  all  the  compass  of  their  tuneful  throats 
Their  varying  cadences,  as  fancy  prompts. 
"Whereat  the  Stygian  herd,  like  them  of  old 
Lull'd  by  the  Thebian  minstrel,  stood  at  gaze 
Mute  and  appeas'd  ;  for   nusic  hath  a  voice, 
Which  e'en  the  devils  obey,  and  for  a  while 

*  J 

Sweet  sounds  shall  lay  their  turbid  hearts  asleep. 

Charm'd  into  sweet  oblivion  and  renose, 

■ 

The  praise  of  Mammon  the  rapt  seraphs  sung, 
And    gold's  almighty   pow  *r :  free    flow'd    the 

verse  ; 
No  need  to  call  the  Muse  ;  for  all  were  there  ; 
ApoHo  and  the  Heliconian  3Iaids, 
And  all  that  pagan  poet  e'er  invoked 
Were  present  to  the  song.     Above  the  flight 
Of  bold  Alcseus,  Tisias  bard  divine, 
Or  Pindar's  strain  Olympic,  high  it  soar'd 
In  dithyrambic  majesty  sublime.  760 

At  the  right  hand  of  hell's  terrific  lord 
Mammon  exalted  sate,  and  as  the  choir 
Chanted  their  hvinn.  his  swelling:  bosom  throbb'd 

ml  O 

In  concert    with  the  strain  :  pride  flu*h'd   his 
cheek. 


loo  CALVAKY ;  OK,        [book  at 

jFurrow'd  with  care  and  toil ;  his  eyes,  now  rais'd 
From    earth,   their  proper    centre,    sparkling 

gleam'd 
Malicious  triumph,  whilst  ovations  loud, 
And  thund'ring  plaudits  shook  the  trembling  roof; 

The  song  was  clos'd,  and,  order  now  resum'd, 
Mammon  stood  forth  to  speak  ;  when,  ere  the 
words  770 

From  his  slow  lips  found  way,  the  infernal  king, 
With  eager  action  starting  from  his  throne, 
Gave  sign  for  silence,  and  thus  interpos'd  : 

"  Pause,  worthy  sp'ritj  awhile  !  my  mind  fore- 
bodes 
tJares  more  immediate,  for  amid  the  throng 
I  spy  our  faithful  Chemos  ;  well  I  know 
'Tis  not  on  slight  occasion  he  hath  left 
The  post  assign'd  Iiim  5  and  behold  !  his  looks 
Augur  important  tidings.     Fall  back,  friends, 
And  give  our  gallant  centinel  access."  780 

Obedient  to  the  word,  the  opening  files 
Fell  back  and  let  him  pass  ;  he  to  the  throne 
Lowrev'rcnce  made,  and  thus  his  cbiefaddressrd> 

"  Imperial  lord  of  this  seraphic  host, 
As  I  kept  station  On  the  faithless  mount, 
Where  once  my  altar  blaz'd,  revolted  now 
From  its  allegiance,  and  with  olive  crown'd, 
In  token  of  God's  peace,  I  thence  descry'd 
By  glimpse  of  the  pale  moon,  a  vagrant  train. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHKIST.  101 

With  Jesus  at  their  head,  fording  the  brook,  790 
As  thither  bound.     I  coueh'd  upon  the  watch, 
So  bidd'n,  and  to  their  talk  gave  heedful  ear. 
A  melancholy  theme  the  Master  chose  : 
Sadly  he  warns  them  of  his  own  death's  hour 
ISTow  near  impending,  and  how  all  shall  fly, 
Like  scattcr'd  sheep,   and  their  lone    shepherd 

leave 
Forlorn,  abandoned.     This  the  fiery  zeal 
Of  Peter,  to  our  chief  well  known,  disclaims* 
Who   boldly  vouches,   though  all  else   should 

swerve* 
His  own  unshaken  constancy  ;  when  Christ, 
Severe*  though  not  with  railing,  him  reproves, 
And  solemnly  denounces  triple  breach 
Of  this  vain  boast,  and  instant,  for  this  night, 
Or   ere  the   cock's  shrill   trumpet  twice    shall 

sound, 
(So  Christ  predicts,)  he  shall  be  thrice  deny'd 
I  Of  this  self-vaunting  man.     All  this  I  heard, 
And  held  it  for  my  duty  to  report  ; 
What  more  ensu'd,  imperfectly  I  learn  ; 
For  now  the  Master  taketh  three  apart, 
And,  much  disturb'd  in  soul  and  sore  amaz'd, 
Wills  them  stand  off  and  watch,  whilst  he  retires 
And  vents  his  grief  in  pray'r :  I  saw  him  fall 
Prostrate  to  earth,  and   vent   such   heart-felt 

groans, 


102  CALVARY ;  Oil,         [book  hi. 

That,  were  I  other  than  I  am,  less  wrong'd, 
Less  hostile  to  the  tyranny  of  heav'n, 
Whence  I  am  exil'd,  I  had  then  let  fall 
Weak  pity's  tear,  and  heen  my  nature's  fool. 
But,  lords,  I  cannot  so  forget  your  cause, 
Or  my  own  wrongs,  nor  would  I  wear  a  heart 
Made  of  such  melting  stuff.     With  noiseless 
tread  820 

The  kneeling  suppliant  I  approach'd,  and  mark'd 
His  agony  of  soul,  whilst  from  his  brow 
I  saw  large  drops  and  gouttes  of  bloody  sweat 
Incarnadine  the  dust,  on  which  they  fell. 
Bear  witness,  my  revenge, 'twas  there,  e'en  there. 
The  very  spot,  on  which  he  knelt  and  pray'd, 
Where  now  his  blood,  wrung  out  by  agony 
xls  in  atonement,  dropt,  on  which  my  shrine, 
Kear'd  by  the  wives  of  the  uxorious  king, 
Deck'd  out  with  blazing  tapers,  proudly  shone, 
And  front  to  front  of  God's  own  temple  stood, 
Till  Asa's  paricidal  hand  pluck'd  up 
Maacha's  groves  and  burnt  my  shrine  to  duste 
Now  hear  the  sequel :  As  I  stood  at  gaze, 
Noting  his  pray'r,  one  of  the  heav'nly  band 
And  of  the  highest,  Gabriel,  with  his  spear 
Coucli'd  as  for  combat,  started  forth  to  view, 
And, frowning,  bade  me  take  my  flight  with  speed, 
Nor  trouble  that  just  person.     Valiant  peers  ! 
I  am  not  one  to  back  at  his  proud  bidding,    840 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  103 

Nor  ever  did  I  turn  my  face  to  flight 
Save  in  our  army's  universal  rout, 
When  all  from  heav'n  fell  headlong;  to  the  gulph: 
Such  weapon  as  I  had,  this  trenchant  sword, 
Of  adamantine  proof,  forthwith  I  drew  ; 
But  ere  my  arm  could  wield  it,  swift  as  thought 
I  felt  his  spear's  sharp  point  with  forceful  thrust 
Deep  plung*d  into  my  side:  Staggering,  amaz'd, 
I  gave  back,  so  compell'd ;  he  still  advanc'd 
Arm'd  for  a  second  onset,  when  my  strength 
Foil'd,  though  immortal,  and  my  sight  grown  dim, 
My  wound  the  whilst  sore  rankling,  I  took  wing 
And  hither  came,  on  painful  pinions  borne, 
Your  faithful  servant,  whether  to  attempt 
Fresh  battle,  or  my  present  loss  repair." 

This  said,  he  put  his  azure  tunic  by, 
And  bar'd  his  wounded  side,  where  Gabriel's 

spear 
Had  lodg'd  its  massy  fluke  ;  a  ghastly  chasm 
Trench'd  by  the  force  of  arch-angelic  arm, 
And  to  aught  else  than  deathless  spirit  death. 
Fir'd  at  the  sight,  with  eyes  that  sparkling 

blaz'd, 
Satan  uprose,  and  thus  infuriate  spake  : 

"  Gabriel  in  arms  !  Hah  !  warriors,  we  are 

brav'd  : 
Christ  hath  his  guard  about  him,  and  defies  us. 
If  this  immortal  spirit  could  not  stand. 


104  CALVAEY;    OK,  [book  iu. 

What  shall  Iscariot  do  ?  Myself  will  forth  : 
We  shall  then  see  who  wields  the  stronger  lance, 
Satan  or  Gabriel  :  in  the  fields  of  heav'n, 
In  the  mid-air,  on  earth,  in  deepest  hell 
He  knows  my  might  superior,  and  shall  rue  870 
His  dastardly  assault.     Why  not  with  me, 
The  sender  rather  than  the  sent,  this  strife  ? 
So  might  he  boast  the  contest,  though  subdu'd. 
The  scars  by  this  sharp  sword  in  battle  dealt, 
Are  the  best  honors  Gabriel  hath  to  vaunt  ; 
The  brightest  laurels  on  his  brow  are  those 
I  planted,  when  in  equal  fight  I  deign'd 
To  measure  spears  with  such  inferior  foe. 
Doth  Gabriel  think  God's  favor  can  reverse 
Immutable  pre-eminence,  and  raise  880 

His  menial  sphere  to  that,  in  which  I  shone 
Son  of  the  morning  ?  Doth  he  vainly  hope, 
Exil'd  from  heav'n,  we  left  our  courage  there, 
Or  lost  it  in  our  fall,  or  that  hell's  fires 
Have  parch'd  and  wither'd  our  shrunk  sinews  up  ? 
Delusive  hope  !  the  warrior's  nerve  is  strung 
By  exercise,  by  pain,  by  glorious  toil. 
The  torrid  clime  of  hell,  its  burning  rock, 
Its  gulph  of  liquid  flames,  in  w  Inch  we  roll'd, 
Have  calcin'd  our  strong  hearts,   breath' d  their 
own  fires  890 

Into  our  veins,  and  forg'd  those  nerves  to  steel, 
Which heav'n's  calm  setheT.  her  voluptuous  skic« 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  103 

And  frequent  adorations  well  nigh  smooth'd 
To  the  soft  flexibility  of  slaves, 
Till  hold  rebellion  shook  its  fetters  off, 
And  with  their  clangor  rais'd  so  brave  a  storm. 
That  God's  eternal  throne  rock'd  to  its  base. 
Now  break  we  up  this  council :  Each  disperse 
Or  to  his  post,  his  pleasure,  or  pursuit ; 
Sufliceth  for  this  task  my  single  arm.  900 

Ciiemos  shall  be  reveng'd  ;  the  public  zeal 
Of  Mammon  still  shall 'be  our  theme  of  praise ; 
Nor  shall  Iscariot's  nightly  plot  be  foil'd 
By  intervening  angels  ;  nor  these  priests, 
Whose  seats  we  fill,  and  whose  allies  we  are, 
Fail  of  their  victim,  or  find  us  remiss 
To  second  them  in  this  our  common  league 
And  joint  emprise  against  the  pow'rs  of  heav'n.'9 
'Twas  said ;  the  princes  of  th'  assembly  rose 
In  reverence  to  his  will;  the  legion  round   910 
Smote  on  their  shields  the  signal  of  assent. 
Tow'ring  he  stood,  the  majesty  of  hell  ; 
Dark  o'er  his  brows  thick  clouds  of  vengeance 

roll'd.... 
Thunder  was  in  his  voice. ...his  eye  shot  fire, 
And  loud  he  call-d  for  buckler  and  for  spear  ; 
These  bold  Azazel  bore,  enormous  weight, 
vFor  Atlantean  spirit  proper  charge  : 
With  eager  grasp  he  seiz'd  the  tow'ring  mast5 
And  shook  it  like  a  twig  ;  then  with  a  frown,, 

O 


106  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  m. 

That  aw'd  the  stoutest  heart,  gave  sign  for  all  920 
Straight  to  disperse,  and  vanished   from   their 


sight. 


END  OF    THE    THIRD  BOOK, 


CALVARY; 


OR, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST. 


BO  OK  IV, 


ARGUMENT  OF  THE  FOURTH  BOOK, 


A  general  review  of  Christ's  agony  in  the  garden  :  His  disciples,  who  are 
ordered  to  watch,  fall  asleep  :  Christ  prays  apart  ;  he  wakens  theiri, 
and  warns  them  to  watch,  lest  they  enter  into  temptation.  Satan  ar- 
rives, and  takes  post  near  the  spot  where  Christ  is  praying  in  his  agony. 
He  is  discovered  by  Gabriel,  the  supporting  angel  :  their  interview  des- 
cribed. Christ  approaches,  and  reproving  Satan,  by  the  word  of  power, 
casts  him  to  the  ground,  disabled  and  in  torments.  Judas  now  advan- 
ces with  an  armed  company  ;  betrays  his  Master  with  a  kiss  :  Christ 
is  seized  and  carried  away  to  the  palace  of  the  high  priest.  Satan,  un» 
able  to  rise,  laments  over  his  disconsolate  condition  :  He  is  discovered 
by  Mammon,  who  consoles  him  and  assists  in  raising  him  from  the 
ground.  Satan  testifies  to  the  power  and  divinity  of  Chrits — feels  a  pre- 
sentiment of  his  impending  doom,  and  having  delivered  his  last  injunc- 
tions to  Mammon,  is  lifted  from  the  earth  by  a  stormy  gust  and  carri- 
ed through  the  air  out  of  sight  of  that  evil  spirit,  who>  terrified  by  thS 
fate  of  his  chief,  turns  to  flight  and  escapes. 


CALVARY,  tic. 


BOOK  IV. 


THE    AGONY    IN    THE    GARDEN. 

0  MOUNT  of  Agony  !  water'd  with  tears 
From  my  Redeemer's  eyes,  and  by  his  knees 
Pressing  thy  turf,  made  sacred  as  the  ground 
Where  ev'nthe  chosen  shepherd  might  not  stand 
But  with  unsandal'd  feet !  Ah  !  where  is  now 
That  purifying  Angel  me  to  cleanse 
From  this  vile  world,  that  so  I  may  approach, 
Though  but  in  thought,  with  a  right  sp'rit  re- 
new'd, 
Thy  hallow 'd  solitude  ?  Lo  !  where  the  Lord 
Sorrowing  retires  apart  :   Where  are  the  three 
Stationed  to  guard  his  sacred  privacy  ? 
Stand  they  aloof,  as  their  forefathers  stood, 
When  from  the  midst  of  darkness,  cloud  and  fire, 
Jehovah  thunder'd  out  of  Sinai's  mount  ? 
Ah,  no!  within  that  olive  grove  they  lie  [guard. 
Stretch' d   on  the  ground,   a  drowsy    slumb'ring 
And  could  ye  not,  ye  sleepers,  watch  one  hour 
For  such  a  master  ?  Oh  !  what  heart  could  taste 
Of  rest  or  peace,  whilst  his  was  rack'd  with  pain  ? 


HO  CALVARY;    OR,         [book  iv. 

Was  it  the  sighs  his  suffering  virtue  breath'd  20 
Into  the  air  of  sad  Gethsemane, 
That  so  entranc'd  your  senses  ?  Or  was  he, 
The  strengthening  angel,   sent  from  Heav'n  to 

shield 

The  Saviours  anguish  from  all  human  eyes, 

And  veil  the  mystery  of  that  awful  hour  ? 

Then  was  that  angry  cup,  full  mix'd  and  red 

From  God's  right  hand,  presented  to  his  lips  : 

Tlse  hitter  essence  of  oriu'nal  sin, 

With  every  life-destroying  extract,  drawn 

From  man's  corruption  since,  were  there  infus'd, 

Compounded  and  resolv'd  into  that  draught, 

Mix'd  by  the  hand  of  death,  and  drugg'd  in  hell. 

The  cowaril,  shrinking  under  fortune's  blows, 

With  desperate  lip  hath  oft-times  drank  and  died  ; 

'Tis  refuge,  'tis  desertion  from  a  post 

He  dare  defend  no  longer — 'tis  the  hope. 

False,  fruitless  hope,  of  a  perpetual  sleep, 

When  he  hath  bottom'd  that  Letluean  cup  : 

But  our  Redeemer's  portion  was  not  such ; 

Horrors  and  heart-dissolving  woes  and  pangs, 

That  mock  imagination's  scope,  and  stretch 

The  heart's  strom?  cordage,  till  it  bursts  asunder 

Andleaves  the  mind  a  wreck,thesewere  tlte  drugs, 

Thatbrew'd  that  cup  of  agony,  which  God 

Now  tendered  as  the  wrath-atoning  draught 

For  a  revolted  world  !  Mysterious  act ! 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         t  i  i 

The  Father  sacrifice  the  Son  belov'd  ! 

The  just,  to  spare  the  unjust,  lay  the  rod 

Upon  the  guiltless  head !  Shall  all  offend, 

And  One  atone  for  all  ?  One  Victim  hear      50 

The  accumulated  load  of  punishment, 

The  mass  of  vengeance,  that  amazing  whole, 

Which  each  partic'lar  sin  had  pil'd  in  store. 

And  that  devoted  sacrifice  a  Lamb 

Pure,  without  spot  or  blemish  ?  O  my  soul ! 

Beware,  nor  to  that  tabernacle  press, 

Where  clouds  and  darkness  canopy  thy  God. 

Lo  !  where  the  Saviour  kneels  ;  he  looks  around 
For  some  to  succour,  to  support — some  friend. 
Whose    sympathizing   eye  might  beam  upon 

him,  60 

And,  with  a  moment's  glance  of  pity,  cheer 
His  desolated  spirit.     All  around 
Is  vacant  horror,  solitary,  dark  : 
The  partners  of  his  heart,  the  chosen  few, 
The  friends,  who  should  have  watch'd,  are  wrapt 

in  sleep.... 
Insensible,  supine,  oblivious  sleep  ; 
Woes  multiplied  by  woe,  and  that  the  worst 
Ingratitude,  the  sharpest  fang  that  gnaws 
Man's  bleeding  bosom.     In  this  sad  extreme, 
His  soul,  revolting  from  the  noisome  draught 
With  eyes  to  heav'n  uplifted,  and  a  sigh 
Which  shew'd  that  human  weakness  then  <»y  < 

power*d 


IIS  CALVARY;  OR,  [bookiv, 

His  soul's  diviner  part — "Abba !"'  lie  cries, 
"  Father,  all  things  are  possible  to  thee, 
Remove  this  cup  !"  Then  bows  his  patient  head 
And  qualifies  the  pray'r — "  Yet  not  my  trill 
But  thine  be  done  !"  No  voice  from  heav'n  re* 

plies  : 
All  nature  sleeps  in  silence  still  as  death, 
As  if  the  planets  in  their  spheres   had  paus-d 
To  watch  the  trembling  balance,  on  whose  point 
The  fortunes  of  this  globe  suspended  hung — 
Its  ruin  or  redemption,  death  or  life.  [blow 

'Twas  then  the  strengthening  angel  dealt  the 
That  put  the  hovering  spy  of  hell  to  flight, 
Seen  of  our  Lord  in  ambush  where  he  lay. 
And  now  the  Mourner  rises  from  the  earth, 
On  which  he  knelt,  and  a  few  paces  moves, 
Pensive  and  slow,  to  find  his  station'd  friends. 
He  finds  them  not  as  friends  upon  the  watch, 
Not  as  God's  faithful  soldiers  should  be  found, 
But  at  their  length  stretch' d  out  in  lazy  sleep, 
With  folded  arms  supine.    Rous'd  by  his  voice, 
They  stare,  they  start,  confounded  and  amazrd. 
"  Could  ye  not  watch  one  hour  ?"    the    Sufferer 

cries  : 
"  Watch,  for  the  foe  of  man  is  near  at  hand  ; 
Pray,  lest  ye  fall  into  the  tempter's  snare  ; 
The  sp'rit  is  ready,  but  the  flesh  is  weak." 
So  warn'd,  helcaves  them  withthis  mild  rebuke, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         113 

A  second  time  he  seeks  the  dismal  dell, 
Again  he  prays  remission  of  his  woe,  100 

And  deprecates  the  agonizing  cup  : 
Meanwhile  his  drowsy  centinels  perceive 
A  langour,  which  their  senses  must  ohey, 
And  down  they  sink,  their  leaden  eye-halls  elos'd 
As  in  a  death-like  trance.     Again  he  comes— 
Again  he  calls,  a  second  warning  gives, 
And  so  departs. — Now  Satan  on  the  wing 
Swift  as  a  fiery  meteor  rides  the  air,  [war  t 

With  shield   and  spear  arm'd  at  all  points  for 
Then  down  at  once,  with  huge  Titanian  bulk, 
Plumb  down  he  lights  upon  the  solid  soil, 
Hard  by  th'  angelic  post :  Earth  felt  the  shock5 
And,  trembling  to  her  centre,  inly  groan5 d. 
Nor  did  his  haughty  courage  deign  to  crouch, 
Or  lurk  with  lion-watch,  but  firm  of  foot, 
Erect  and  confident  in  arms  he  stood, 
As  one  whose  prowess  all  advantage  scorn'd 
And  mean  surprise  of  an  unguarded  foe. 
Such  arts  to  weaker  spirits  he  resign'd ; 
lie  of  his  former  self  felt  no  decay,  120 

Or,  feeling,  scorn'd  confession  ;  for  his  pride 
Still  deem'd  that  heav'n,  though  lost,  contain'd 

no  peer 
To  mate  with  him  in  hardihood  and  proof, 
Save  only  the  Almighty  ;  to  such  height 
Of  arrogance  had  pow'r  long  time  usurped 

P 


114  CALVARY;    OH,         [book  iv. 

Over  the  Gentile  nations,  and  the  sight 
Of  God's  own  Son,  now,  as  he  falsely  deem'd, 
Vanquish'd  and  prostrate,  swell'd  his  impious 

heart. 
Our  blessed  Lord,  mean  while,having  preferred 
For  the  last  time  his  interceding  prayer,      130 
Summon'd  his  strength,  and,  conscious  that  the 

hour 
Was  come  which  finish'd  or  rcvok'd  the  task 
Of  man's  redemption  from  the  powers  of  hell. 
Whose  representative  hard  hy  at  hand 
Stood  eager  to  arrest  the  forfeit  prize, 
Put  forth  his  hand,  and  as  he  took  the  cup, 
Satan,  who  stood  spectator  of  the  deed, 
Started  aghast !  cold  tremor  shook  his  joints... 
His  threat'ning  spear  now  droop'd,  and  his  broad 

shield, 
So  proudly  borne  aloft,  weigh'd  down  his  arm 
Slack  and  unnerv'd  ;  confusion  seiz'd  his  heart, 
And  his  high  courage  quell'd.     This  Gabriel 

saw, 
Yet  left  he  not  his  post  till  Christ  had  drain'd 
The  cup  mysterious  ;  to  its  lowest  dregs 
He  drank  it ;  now  convulsion  shook  the  fiend  ; 
Death  shriek'd  amain,   and  through  his  hollow 

ribs 
Drove  his  own  ebon  dart  with  desp'rate  rage. 
Bitter  the  draught  and  hateful  to  the  taste. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  1 15 

But  immortality  had  crown'd  the  cup,     [forth, 
And  Light  and  Life,  on  phoenix  wings,   sprung 
From  the  foul  dregs,  in  new-horn  glories  bright. 
Gabriel,  who  knew  that  by  this  solemn  act 
Thus  happily  perform'd  his  charge  expir'd, 
Now  turn'd  away  in  search  of  that  fierce  sp*rit, 
Whom  thro'  tlie  darkling  coyert  he  had  seen, 
Whilst  by  the  side  of  God's  afflicted  Son 
Minist'ring  he  stood.     Right  well  he  knew  the 

form 
And  towering  port  of  hell's  terrific  king  ; 
Nor  had  the  dire  confusion  and  dismay 
Of  that  fell  daemon  scap'd  the  angelic  glance. 
Him  now  within  a  gloomy  dell  retir'd 
To  further  distance,  wrapt  as  it  should  seem 
In  pensive  thought,  the  guardian  seraph  spy -d. 
In  the  same  moment  Satan's  ghastly  eye 
Glanc'd  on  his  foe  :  bright  in  c  senile  an  arms 
Heav'n's  champion  shone,  high  o'er  his  crested 

helm 
The  arch-angelic  plume  triformed  wav'd, 
Ensign  of  thron'd  state  and  high  command. 
The  grisly  monarh  gnash'd  his  teeth  for  spite 
To  find  himself  encounter'd  at  such  odds  ;  170 
His  foe  fresh  blooming  in  immortal  youth, 
Vigorous,  in  heav'nly-temper'd  armour  brae'd  ; 
Himself  at  this  ill  hour  surprised. ..his  strength 
As  by  enchantment  blasted,  and  that  voice. 


116  CALVARY ;  OR,  [book  iv. 

Which  in  the  ears  of  all  hell's  princes  vouch'd 
Such   bold  achievements,  shrunk  from  its  high 

pitch 
To  feeble  murmurs,  and  weak  whining  sighs. 

So  when  on  Z  una-s  plain  the  rival  chiefs, 
Home's  consul  and  the  Punic  captain,  met 
To  parley  in  mid-way  'twixt  either  camp,     180 
T       war-worn  veteran,  blighted  anddefac'd 
B     '  int'rv  marches  over  noisome  fens 
And  snows  on  mountains  pil'd,  with  envious  eye. 
Sole  relic  of  his  toil,  survey' d  the  form 
And  blooming  features  of  his  youthful  foe  ; 
Then  to  his  mind  recalling  glories  past, 
"When  his  proud  menace  aw'd  immortal  Rome, 
SigU'd  to  reflect  how  far  in  the  decline    [sunk  ; 
From   that   bright  morn  his  evening  sun  had 
Then  eyed  the  youth  again,  and  in  his  face,  190 
Shadowed  by  fate,  saw  Carthage  doom'd  to  fall, 
And  his  own  glories  to  a  foe  transferr'd, 
Less  than  his  equal  once.. .his  conqu'ror  now. 

But  'twas  not  long  that  Satan  so  endur'd, 
For  now  the  conscious  sense  of  former  deeds 
Bold,  though  unblest,  and  high  innate  disdain 
O      lean  capitulation  and  demur 
T  jus-d  his  proud  heart,  like  ahot  courser  spurr'd^ 
To  chafe  and  lash  his  languid  courage  up. 
Red'ninghe  swelled,  and  gnaw'd  his  nether  lip 
For  vengeance  that  it  would  not  give  him  word? 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  117 

To  hurl  defiance  on  th'  advancing  foe  : 
When  Gabriel,  noting  his  disorder'd  mien 
And  haggard  aspect,  strait  hespoke  the  fiend  : 

"  Thus  ever  may  the  foe  of  Christ  he  found 
Speechless,  abash'd,  struck  down  of  Heav'n  and 

quell'd  ! 
How  long,  malicious  sp'rit,  wilt  thou  persist 
To  trouble  this  vex'd  earth  ?  How  long  to  haunt 
This  righteous  person,  whose  strong  virtue  mocks 
Thy  faint    attempts  ?  Warn'd  by   this    shame, 

avaunt  ! 
Hence,  baffled  Tempter  !  roaming  thus  at  large, 
Thou  dost  but  show,  by  melancholy  proof, 
That  a  tormented  conscience  never  rests."  [fix'd, 

As  the  fierce  panther,  through  the  ribs  trans- 
Writhes  round  the  bloody  weapon  in  his  side, 
And  tugs  it  to  and  fro  with  foamy  teeth, 
Mad'ning  with  pain  and  gnashing  at  his  wound  ; 
So  'gainst  himself  and  foe  alike  enrag'd, 
Hell's  gloomy  lord,  by  this  deserved  taunt 
Cut  to  the  heart,  with  many  a  hard  essay      2^0 
Struggled  for  voice  ;  at  length  collecting  breath, 
These  words  disdainful,  though  of  their  full  tone 
And  energy  abated,  found  their  way  : 

"  Gabriel,  the  brave  in  danger  earn  renown  ; 
True  valor  spares  the  weak ;  but  thou  more  wise 
Than  valiant,  studiest  well  the  safer  hour, 
When  to  come  forth  and  wage  inglorious  war 


Ii8  CALVABY;  OK,         [bdokiy. 

'Gainst  unprovided  foes  ;  if  Chemos  then, 
Or  some  slight  Cherub,  cross  thy  wary  path, 
Woe  to  the  straggler  !  if  thy  barbed  spear  230 
Can  make  safe  tilt  at  his  unweapon'd  side. 
But  I,  who  day  and  night  have  pac'd  this  globe* 
Found  in  all  quarters — I,  who  never  shunn'd, 
Rather  have  sought  thy  walk,  am  left  to  roam 
Free  and  of  thee  unquestion'd,  from  the  hour 
When  on  the  confines  of  this  new-made  world 
We  parlied  under  Eden's  shady  fence, 
To  th'  instant  now,  when  faint  and  ill  at  ease, 
Un  warlike  angel,  thou  hast  found  me  here 
Nerveless,  and  little  more  than  match  for  thee." 
To  whom  the  indignant  virtue  thus  reply'd  : 
"  If  Satan  here  is  found  in  evil  plight,      [wiles, 
He's  found  of  me  unsought.     Thine    own  dark 
Degen'rate  sp'rit,   and  heav'n's  all-ruling  hand 
Have  cast  thee  in  my  way.     Must  I  turn  oft' 
From  duty's  road  direct,  because  forsooth 
A  wounded  adder  hisses  in  my  path  ? 
Why  didst  thou  press  into  tins  place  of  prayer, 
This   hallow'd    solitude,    where    Christ    hath 

breatii'd 
A  charm,  that  withers  up  thy  blasted  strength  ? 
Could'st  thou    not  learn,    by   late    experience 

taught, 
There  is  a  sphere  about  the  Son  of  God, 
In  which  no  sp'rit  like  thee  accurst  can  draw 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         i  19 

3  lis  breath  blaspheming  ?  At  a  word  begone  ! 
Though  with  my  foot  I  could  have  spurn'd  thee 

hence, 
1  tread  not  on  the  fall'n  ;  nor  do  I  vaunt 
Conquest  of  thee,  that  to  a  mightier  arm, 
Rebel  to  God,  to  God's  own  Son  thou  ow'st — 
To  Christ,  not  Gabriel  ;  nor  shalt  thou  alone 
Stoop  to  his  name,  but  every  idol  god,  2Q0 

And  ev'ry  pow'r  of  darkness  with  their  prince, 
And  sin  hell-born,  and  tby  foul  offspring  death." 

Whereto,  by  these  prophetic  words  appall'd, 
Satan,  with  taunting  argument,  reply'd  : 

"  Since  this  angelic  form,  from  death  exempt, 
Sometimes    shall   yield  to  aches   and  transient 

pains, 
And  natural  ailments  for  awhile  endur'd. 
What  wonder,  if  ethereal  sp'rit  like  me, 
Pent  in  this  atmosphere,  and  fain  to  breathe 
The  lazy  fogs  of  this  unwholesome  earth,      S70 
Pine  for  his  native  clime  ?    What  if  he  droop. 
Worn  out  with  care  and  toil  ?  Wert  thou  as  I 
Driv'n  to  and  fro,  and  by  God's  thunder  hm  I'd 
From  heav'n's  high  ramparts,  would  that  silken 

form 
Abide  the  tossing  on  hell's  fiery  lake  ? 
Hudst  thou,  like  me,  travcrs'd  the  vast  profound 
Of  ancient  night,  and  beat  the  weary  wing 
Through  stormy  Chaos,  voyage  rude  as  tins 


ISO  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  iv. 

Would  ruffle  those  fine  plumes.     I've   kept  my 

course 
Through  hurricanes,  the  least  of  which  let  loose 
On  this  firm  globe  would  winnow  it  to  dust... 
Snap  like  a  weaver's  thread  the  mighty  chain, 
That  links  it  to  heav'n' s  adamantine  floor, 
And  whirl  it  through  the  infinite  of  space. 
And  what  hast  thou,  soft  cherub,  done  the  whilst? 
What  are  thy  labors  ?   What  hast  thou  achiev'd  ? 
Heav'n  knows    no  winter., .there  no  tempests 

howl ; 
To  breathe  perpetual  spring.. .to  sleep  supine 
On  flowery  beds  of  amaranth  and  rose, 
Voluptuous  slavery,  was  Gabriel's  choice  :  390 
His  bosom  never  drew  the  indignant  sigh, 
That  rent  my  heart,  when,  call'd  to  morning 

hymn, 
I  paid  compulsive  homage  at  God's  throne, 
Warbling  feign'd  hallelujahs  to  his  praise, 
Spirits  of  abject  mould,  and  such  art  thou, 
May  call  this  easy  sendee  ;  for  they  love 
Ignoble  ease  ;  to  me  the  fulsome  task 
Was  bitterest  slavery,  and  though  I  fell, 
I  fell  opposing  ;  exiPd  both  from  heav'n, 
Freedom  and  I  shar'd  the  same  glorious  fall.  300 
Go  back,  then,  to  thy  drudgery  of  praise, 
Practise  new  canticles  and  tune  thy  throat 
To  flattery's  fawning  pitch  :  leave  me  my  groans, 


THE  DEATH  OE  CHRIST.         i  2  i 

Leave  me  to  teach  these  echoes  how  to  curse  ; 
Here  let  me  lie  and  make  this  rugged  stone 
My  couch,  my  canopy  this  stormy  cloud, 
That  rolls  stern  winter  oer  my  fenceless  head; 
'TIs  freedom's  privilege.. .nor  tribute  owes, 
Nor  tribute  pays  to  heav'n's  despotic  king." 

Thus  whilst  he  spake,  the  Saviour  of  mankind, 
New  ris'n  from  pray'r,  drew  nigh  ;  whereat  the 

fiend, 
Or  ere  the  awful  presence  met  his  eye, 
Shivering  as  one  by  sudden  fever  seiz'd, 
Turn'd  deadly  pale  ;  then  fell  to  earth  convuls'd. 
Dire  were  the  yells  he  vented,  fierce  the  throes 
That  writh'd  his  tortur'd  frame,  whilst  through 

the  seams 
And  chinks,  that  in  his  jointed  armor  gap'd, 
Blue  sulph'rous  flames  in  livid  flashes  burst, 
So  hot  the  hell  within  his  fueFd  heart ; 
Which  like  a  furnace  sev'n  times  heated  rag'd. 
Meanwhile  the  winged  Messenger  of  heaven, 
Gabriel,  with  horror  and  amazement  fix'd, 
Stood  motionless  behind  his'orbed  shield. 
Not  so  the  Saviour  ;  he,  with  look  composed 
And  stedfast,  noting  the  disastrous  plight 
Of  that  tormented  fiend,  these  words  address'd  : 
"  Satan,  thou  see'st  the  serpent's  primal  cursp 
At  length  falls  heavy  on  thy  bruised  head  ; 
When  man  lost  paradise,  by  thee  be  tray 'd3 

Q 


122  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  it. 

This  was  thy  doom,  deceiver  ;  and  altho'     330 
A.Tjes  have  roll'd  on  ages  since,  yet  God, 
Who  from  eternal  to  eternal  lives 
Blessed  for  evermore,  computes  not  time  [long. 
As  thou,  whose  mis'ry  makes  short  years  seem 
Yet  was  the  interim  thine,  and  thou,  who  first 
Bs*oughtJst  sin  into  the  world,  hast  reign'd  in  sin: 
Thou  hadst  the  power  of  death,  but  I  thro'  death 
Am  destin'd  to  destroy  that  power  and  thee. 
And  now,  my  hour  is  come,  I  go  to  death, 
That  all  thro*  me  may  live  ;  therefore,  begone  ! 
Get  thee  behind  rne  !  thou  hast  now  no  part 
On  earth  ;  thy  dwelling  is  prepar'd  in  hell : 
There,  when  we  meet,  expect  to  meet  thy  doom.'* 
This  said,  the  fiend  reply'd  not  but  with  groans; 
Nor  staid  the  angel  longer  than  to  turn 
One  last  sad  look  upon  his  prostrate  foe, 
Then  flew  to  heav'n.  The  Saviour  bent  his  steps 
In  search  of  his  disciples  ;  them  he  found 
Wrapt  as  before  in  sleep.  "  Sleep  on,"  he  cry'd, 
"  And  henceforth  take  your  rest :  It  is  enough  : 
The  hour  is  come.     Behold  !  the  Son  of  Man 
Into  the  hands  of  sinners  is  betray'd  : 
Rise,  let  us  go  !  The  traitor  is  at  hand." 
And  lo  !  while  yet  he  spake,  a  mingled  crew, 
Arm'd  and  unarnvd,  approach  ;  before  them  all 
Judas,  advancing,  thus  bespeaks  the  throng  : 
"  Whom  I  shall  kiss  is  He,  the  Christ  :  Him 
seize 


' 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  423 

And  in  safe  keeping  hold."     Upon  the  word 
He  gives  the  trait' rous  greeting  and  exclaims, 
"  Hail,  Master !"  When  at  once   the  swarming 
crowd  360 

Bush  in  a  space,  then  stand  in  circle  round, 
Like  blood-hounds  held  at  bay,  their  eager  eye* 
Fix'd  on  his  face,  which  to  behold  they  rear 
Their  flaming  torches,  whilst  the  prospect  round 
Glares  with  the  ruddy  blaze  ;  a  ghastly  troop, 
Like  that  dread  chorus,  which  the  tragic  bard 
Pour'd  on  the  scene,  when  the  Athenian  wives 
Dropt  their  abortive  burthens  with  affright, 
To  see  their  snaky  locks  and  fiery  brands 
Kindle  in  Phlegethon's  sulphureous  waves  ;  370 
So  glares  that  haggard  crew  ;  in  front  they  see 
Jesus  in  conscious  majesty  unmov'd; 
Behind  him,  to  some  little  space  withdrawn, 
Peter,  and  James,  and  John,  the  chosen  Three, 
Small  band  ;  but  in  their  Leader's  pow'r  a  host 
Invincible,  'gainst  whom  whole  armies  leagu'd 
Were  but  as  chaff  before  the  whirlwind's  blast. 
Had  he  so  will'd.     But  now,  with  accent  firm, 
"  Whom  seek  ve  ?"  he  demands.  Thev  answer 

make, 
"  Jesus  of  Nazareth."     c;  I  am  the  man,"    380 
Jesus  replies — "  He,  whom  ye  seek,  is  found." 
His  air,  his  utterance,  and  that  voice  divine 
Which  could  have  arm'd  heav'n's  legions  in  his 

cause, 


124  CALVABY;    Oii,         [book  iv. 

Or  gulph'd  them  to  the  centre  at  a  word, 
Swift  as  the  vollied  thunder  smote  their  hearts, 
And  huri'd  them  to  the  ground.  Ht     Imigthey 

fell 
With  hideous  crash,  nor  ever  thence  had    is'n, 
Hud  not  his  gracious  purpose  so  decreed 
For  man's  redemption.  Up  they  rise  from        :h, 
And  in  like  manner  to  the  same  demand     890 
A  second  time  make  answer  5  he  repeats — 
"  T  told  you,  and  ye  heard,  i'.Iiat  I  am  He  : 
If  therefore  me  ye  seek,  let  these  depart." 
Then  hurst  the  chidden  zeal  of  Peter  forth  ; 
Arrn'd  with  a  sword,  he  rusli'd  upon  the  throng, 
And  at  the  foremost  aim'd  a  random  blow, 
That  gash'd  the  caitiff's  head,  but  miss'd  the  life. 
"  Put  up  thy  sword,  rash  man  !"  the  Saviour 

cries — - 
"  Did  1  want  rescue,  would  I  ask  of  thee, 
With  all  my  Father's  angels  at  command  ?  400 
"No  !  let  me  do  His  will  and  drink  His  cup  : 
And  you,  that  here  encompass  me  about, 
As  'twere  a  felon  ye  came  out  to  take, 
With  swords  and  staves,  suffer  thus  far,  behold  ! 
The  wound  his  weapon  makes,  my  touch  shall 

heal —  [sword, 

5Tis  done  !  Know  all,  that  they,  who  take  the 
Shall  perish  by  the  sword.  What  needs  this  stir? 
This  midnight  plotting  and  this  traitor's  kiss* 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHM8T.         125 

These  staves, these  torches,  and  this  arm'd array 
To  make  one  harmless. peaceful  man  your  prize? 
You  saw  me  daily  in  my  puhlic  walks  ; 
Freely  we  commun'd,  for  you  harm'd  me  not ; 
You  heard  me  in  the  temple  ;  for  I  taught 
In  very  zeal  the  simple  way  of  truth, 
Lab'rine  full  hard  to  turn  your  hearts  to  God  : 
li  diis  were  my  offence,  why  not  arrest 
Your  Preacher  in  the  act,  and  drag*  to  death 
Him,  who  would  fain  have  trained  vou  in  the  road 
To  life  eternal  ?  Never  on  the  poor 
Turn'd  I  my  back  ;  I  courted  not  the  rich  ;  420 
Were  this  my  fault,  in  the  broad  face  of  day 
Ye  might  have  smitten  me,  and  earn'dthe  praise 
Of  the  proud  Pharisee  and  braggart  Scribe. 
I  fed  the  hungry,  and  I  heal* d  your  sick — 
I  succour'd  the  tormented  and  possest ; 
Are  these  the  heinous  acts  for  which  I  die  ? 
In  field,  in  city,  in  frequented  ways 
The  wretched  flock'd  around — if  these  he  crimes. 
Why  is  their  punishment  so  long  reserv'd 
To  this  dark  hour  of  night?  The  sun  himself 
Witness'd  my  doings,  so  might  he  my  death. 
But  see  !  my  followers  are  dispers'd  and  fled, 
And  I  stand  in  your  peril  here  alone  : 
No  need  to  fear  him,  who  makes  no  defence  : 
Conduct  me  to  my  doom  :  God's  will  be  done  !" 
This  said,  their  sacrilegious  hands  they  laid 


126  CALVARY;  OR,         [book  iv. 

Upon  his  sacred  person  :  He  in  the  midst, 
With  meek  composure  and  submitted  look* 
March'd  slowly  onward,  as  they  led  the  way 
To  the  proud  dome  of  Caiaphas,  high-priest 
Of  Moloch  than  of  God  more  fitly  cali'd. 

Oh,  ye    hard  hearts !  was   this  the  Paschal 
Lamb, 
Ye  worse  than  pagan  butchers,  whom  ye  cull'd 
Pure  and  unspotted  for  your  bloody  feast  ? 
Well  did  your  law-giver  decree  this  day 
A  record  and  memorial  to  be  kept 
Throughout  your  generations  to  all  time  ; 
A  memorable  day,  a  noted  feast 
Your  stubborn  incredulity  hath  made  it. 
To  you  a  day  of  darkness  and  disgrace  ;         450 
To  us  Salvation's  glorious  dawn — to  us 
By  our  great  Captain  led,  the  Lord  of  Life, 
Who  through  the  darksome  avenue  of  death 
And  depths  mysterious  of  the  mazy  grave, 
Holding  the  clue  of  prophecy  in  hand, 
TJ  nravcli'd  all  the  ways  of  Providence, 
And  to  our  view  set  ope  the  golden  gates 
Of  paradise  rcgain'd,  whence  light  and  life 
And  bliss  eternal  beam  on  all  mankind  5 
For  all,  who  with  their  lips  confess  the   Lord, 
And  in  their  hearts  believe  that  from  the  dead 
God  in  his  pow'r  hath  rais'd  him,  shall  be  sav'd* 

Meanwhile  the  prince  of  hell,  whom  Christ 
had  left 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  197 

Rolling  in  torments  on  the  stony  rock, 
Mad  as  Leviathan,  when  tempest-wreck'd 
Flound'ring  he  lies  upon  the  shoaly  heach, 
Now  to  one  last  and  desperate  effort  driv'n, 
Strainingeaeh  nerve  with  many  a  dolorous  groan, 
Half  his    huge  length  had  rear'd.     His  right 

hand  grasp'd 
His  spear,  the  other  on  his  buckler  propp'd  470 
Pillow'd  his  head,  raging  with  pain  and  tho'ts 
Black  as  the  night  around  him  :  To  arise 
And  stand    surpass'd  his    power  ;  in  vain  he 

spread 
His  feath'ry  vans  to  raise  him  in  the  air ! 
About  him  all  the  ground,  with  azure  plumes 
Beat  from  his  shatter' d  pinions,  was  bestrewn. 
Despair  now  seiz'd  him — now  too  late  he  rued 
His  blasphemies  and  bold  rebellious  taunts 
'Gainstheav'n's  Omnipotent,  his  Judge  incens'd* 
Hopeless  of  mercy,  now  he  curs'd  his  doom  480 
Of  immortality  ;  and  as  he  roll'd 
His  haggard  eyes  in  night,  hell's  flaming  gulph, 
Terrific  vision,  seem'd  to  burst  upon  him, 
With  treble  horrors  charsr'd  :  then  with  a  si^h. 
That  strain'd  his  heaving  cors'let,  he   breath'd 

forth 
In  murmuring  lamentations  these  sad  words  : 
"  Ah  !  who  will  lift  me  from  this  iron  bed, 
On  which,  Prometheus-like,  for  ever  link'd 


1S8-  CALVARY;  OB,  [book  iy, 

And  rivetted  by  dire  necessity 
I'm  doom'd  to  lie.  and  wail  the  cruel  boon  490 
Of  immortality,  my  baneful  fate  ?  [vade 

O  earth',  earth,  earth  !  Cannot  my  groans  per- 
Thy  stony  heart  t'  embowel  me  alive 
Under  this  rock,  before  to-morrow's  sun 
Find  me  here  weltering  in  the  sordid  dust, 
A  spectacle  of  scorn  to  all  my  host, 
Wont  to  behold  in  me  their  kingly  chief? 
Will  not  some    pitying   earthquake   gulph  me 

down 
To  where  the  everlasting  fountains  sleep, 
That  in  those  watery  caverns  I  might  slake  500 
These  fires,  that  shrivel  my  parch'd  sinews  up  ? 
Ah  !  whither  shall  I  turn  !  who  will  unbrace 
This  scalding  mail, that  burns  niy  tortur'd  brenst 
Worse  than  the  shirt  of  Nessus  ?  Oh  !  for  pity, 
Grant  me  a  moment's  interval  of  ease, 
Avenging,  angry  Deity  1  Draw  back  [arm'd 
Thy  red  right  hand,  that  with  the  lightning 
Thrust  to  my  heart  makes  all  my  boiling  blood 
Hiss  in  my  veins  ;  or  if  thou  wilt  destroy 
Whom  thou  hast  vanquish'd,  terminate    these 

feuds  olC 

'Twixtgood  and  evil — thee,  and  me  ;  reduce 
This  incorruptible  to  mould'ring  dust, 
Make  Death  a  parricide,  and  so  conclude 
Me  and  mv  sufferings  and  my  sins  at  once, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST*  1S» 

But  'twill  not  be.     Happy  I  might  have  been— ^ 

Immortal  I  must  be.     God  can  create 

Nt  thing  but  bliss  ;  I  made  the  pains  I  feel. 

Sorrow  had  no  existence— death  no  name, 

Till  I  lost  heav'n  ;  to  be,  was  to  be  blest ; 

And  beings  blest  could  never  cease  to  be.    52Q 

This  earth  and  man  its  'habitant  were  good, 

Till  envy,  pride,  rebellion,  in  my  heart 

Engend'ring.marr'd  God's  perfect  work  with  sin ; 

And  but  for  sin  the  universe  were  heav'n. 

So  am  I  author  of  the  hell  within  me, 

And  these  tormenting  fires  God  cannot  quench; 

For  that  would  be  to  turn  from  what  he  is, 

Parent  of  good,  and  to  become  like  me, 

Patron  and  friend  of  evil.     Reas'ning  thus 

I  must  renounce  all  hope  of  future  peace,     530 

And  wage  eternal  enmity  with  God, 

Whom  longer  to  oppose  I  now  despair, 

And  under  whose  strong  hand,   weight  down 

to  earth, 
Prostrate,  confounded,  I  can  rise  no  more. 
Must  I  be  ever  thus  ?  Must  these  fierce  pangs3 
Or  worse,  if  worse  can  be,  torment  me  ever  ? 

Are  there    no  means  to  make   a  truce  witb 
heav'n  ? 

Submission,  penitence,  atonement,  pray'rs 

And  intercessions — Oh  !  fallacious,  vain, 

Impracticable  terms  !  Can  pride  shed  tears,  £40 

B 


130  CALVARY;  OR,  [book  iv. 

Falsehood  keep  faith,  or  perjury  pass  its  oath 
Upon  that  Judge,  to  whom  all  hearts  are  known  ? 
It  cannot  be.     Ages  of  sin  have  roll'd 
'Twixt  me  and  pardon,  gulph  impassable* 
Man's  loss  of  Paradise,  a  delugM  world, 
Sin  paramount  on  earth,  the  nations  turn'd 
From  God  to  idols,  scarce  a  remnant  left 
Of  this  his  chosen  race,  corruption  spread 
Ev'n  to  the  heart  of  Judah,  and  from  this  mount, 
Sad  witness  of  my  overthrow  and  shame,      550 
Scene  of  ray  triumphs  once,  his  standard  torn 
And  hell's  proud  banners  flaunting  in  its  place  ; 
These,  and  a  countless  multitude  of  wrongs, 
Cry  in  the  catalogue  so  loud  against  me, 
That,  should  the  thunder  of  God's  vengeance 

sleep, 
Mercy  herself  would  seize  th'  uplifted  bolt 
And  speed  the  ling-ring  blow.  What  is  my  hope. 
If  such  the  task  to  purchase  peace  for  man, 
Man  so  subordinate  in  sin  to  me, 
The  spring  and  fountain-head  of  thatfoulstrearn, 
Which  he  at  distance  drank?  If  Christ  must  die 
For  man — if  nothing  less  than  God's  own  Son 
Can  stand  betwixt  the  Father's  wrath  and  man, 
What  mediator  can  be  found  for  me  ? 
None  ;  and  no  wonder  if  his  wrath,  withdrawn 
From  man  now  pardon'd,  fall  with  worse  recoil 
On  my  devoted  head :  Ev'n  now  it  falls. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         1 3 1 

Me  like  an  eagle  in  my  tow'ring  flight, 
From  the  proud  zenith  of  the  sun's  bright  sphere 
Headlong  he  hurls  to  earth,  with  shatter'd  wing 
And  plumes  dishevelPd  grov'ling in  the  dust; 
Me,  the  sole  mover  of  man's  foul  revolt, 
He  marks  for  tenfold  vengeance  ;  for  if  Christ, 
The  patient,  meek  Redeemer,  groans  in  pain, 
What  shall  the  tempter  feel  ?  If  on  the  rack 
Of  agony  his  guiltless  brow  sweats  blood,. 
Well  may  this  body  of  sin  burst  out  in  flames — 
A  conflagration  horrible  to  sight, 
And  blazing  beacon  to  th'  astonish'd  world. 
And  what  is  this  vile  Judas,  who,  seduc'd    580' 
By  wily  3Iammon,  sells  his  Master's  life  ? 
What  Peter's  self,  whom,  had  not  Jesus  pray'd, 
I'd  sifted  into  chaff?  These  purblind  priests, 
Who  with  their  half-shut  eyes  askance  behold 
Their  own  Messias  in  his  wondrous  acts, 
Yet  give  those  wonders  to  the  powers  of  hell, 
And,  trembling  for  their  craft,  complot  his  death, 
What  are  they  ?  Whence  but  from  myself  their 

lies  ? 
'Tis  I  in  them,  and  not  they  of  themselves, 
That  kill   the   Prince  of  Peace ;  his  guiltless 
blood  590 

Sprinkles  their  hands,  but  in  a  flood-gate  tide 
Redder  than  scarlet  whelms  my  sinking  soul." 
He  ceas'd,  and  in  his  mantle  hid  his  face 


132  CALVAHY;    0&,  OookiV, 

For  shame  and  sorrow  to  be  thus  surpris'd  ; 
For  Mammon,  ever  on  the  foot  by  night, 
Had  spy'd  him  thro'  the  gloom,  and  thus  began  : 
"  What  ails  thee,  prince  of  air,  that  here  thou 
liest 
On  the  dull  earth,  not  resting  it  should  seem 
From  victory,  but  vanquish'd  and  o'erthrown  ?" 
"  Vamjuish'd,    alas  !  and   in    the    dust   o'er- 
thrown 600 
By  God's  all-pow'rful  Son,"  Satan  reply'd, 
u  Too  sure  I  am  ;  and  how  it  wrings  this  heart 
So  to  be  found  of  thee  Words  cannot  speak. 
Yet  thou  of  all  the  spirits  heav'n  hath  lost 
Art  he,  of  whom  my  pride  hath  least  to  fear  ; 
Fa  thou  wilt  not  as  others  gall  my  spleen 
With   scorn  and   taunting :    ThoUj  a  friendly 

chief, 
JHast  pity  for  the  sorrows  of  a  friend  ; 
To  thee  my  valour  and  deserts  are  known  ; 
For  thou  wert  ever  nearest  where  I  fought,  G10 
In  front  of  danger  on  the  battle's  edge  ; 
Thou  know'st  the  hazard  and  the  chance  of  war, 
And  with  what  malice  fortune  thwarts  our  best. 
Our  bravest  efforts:  Scarr'd  thyself  with  wounds* 
Thou  from  the  wounded  wilt  not  turn  aside  ; 
Therefore,  O  Mammon,  as  my  hand  to  thee 
Were  present,  didst  thou  need  it,  so  to  me, 
Thy  sovereign  in  distress,   reach    forth   thine 
hand, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         133 

And,  if  thou  canst,  upraise  me  from  this  fall ; 
If  thou  canst  not,  let  not  my  armies  know     620 
Their  leader's  fate — be  mindful  of  my  fame, 
And  bury  this  sad  secret  in  thy  breast." 

He  said,  nor  need  had  he  of  further  suit, 
For  Mammon  now  had  put  forth  all  his  strength 
To  raise  him  from  the  ground  ;   in  his   strong 

grasp 
He  seiz'd  his  giant  limbs  in  armour  clad 
Of  adamant  and  gold,  a  ponderous  wreck : 
Earth  trembled  with  the  shock  ;   dire  were  the 

groans 
Hell's  monarch  vented.. ..horrible  the  pain9 
That  rack'd  his  stiffen'd  joints  ;  yet  on  he  toil'd 
Till  by  heavVs  sufferance,  rather  than  by  aid 
Of  arm  angelic,  once  again  he  rear'd 
His  huge  Titanian  stature  to  the  skies, 
And  stood  :  yet  not  as  late  with  look  erect 
And  lofty  mein,     Ruin  was  in  his  face  ; 
Sordid  and  soil'd  with  ignominious  dust 
His  robe  imperial,  and  his  azure  wings 
And  glossy  locks,  that  o'er  his  shoulders  curl'd* 
Dishevell'd  now,  and  in  like  tatter'd  trim 
With  vessel  tempest-torn,  or  by  the  force      640 
Of  engines  weigh'dfrom  bottom  of  the  deep, 
Founder'd  in  creek  or  harbour,  where  she  lay 
Crulph'd  in  the  slimy  ooze ;  when  Mammon,  thus : 
"  Joy  to  our  gallant  leader  !  Once  again 


134  CALVARY;    OR,         [book  it. 

"With  firm  foot  planted  on  the  subject  earth 

We  stand  as  sp'rits  by  our  strength  redeem'd 

Erect  and  dauntless.  Wherefore  droops  thateye, 

As  it  would  root  itself  into  the  soil, 

From  which  with  vigor  new  restor'd  you  rise 

Antaeus-like,  indignant  of  defeat  ?  650 

Oft,  when  in  search  of  gold  or  silver  ore 

In  earth's  metallic  veins,  I've  labor'd  long 

And  hard,  in  damp  and  darksome  caverns  pent, 

Mining  the  solid  rock,  at  length  to  light 

And  the  free  air  emerg'd,  I've  found  my  limbs 

Stiffen  with  cramps,  or  with  cold  ague  numb-d  : 

Yet  never  did  my  patient  courage  droop 

Or  slack  its  gainful  toil.     I  am  not  apt, 

When  wealth  or  glory  can  be  bought  with  pain, 

To  stagger  at  the  terms  ;  and  if  it  please    660 

Heav'n's  Monarch  in  his  vengeance  to  attach 

To  this  eternal  being  eternal  pain, 

Good  hope,  as  poisons  may  be  sheath'd  by  use. 

So  long  familiarity  with  pain 

May  draw  its  sting,  and  habitude  convert 

Its  hostile  property  to  friendly  ease. 

But  thy  great  heart  perhaps  is  rent  with  grief, 

Of  pain  disdainful  as  of  lesser  ill  :         [heaven, 

And  wherefore  grieve  ?  Our  joys  were  lost  with 

Our  passions  all  revers'd,  our  natures  changM, 

Virtues  to  vices,  amity  to  hate  ;  [bell 

Deeds,  that  in  heav'n  had  been  our  shame,  in 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  135 

Become  our  glory  ;  and  whilst  the  world  endures, 

Whilst  evil  is  to  good  oppos'd,  we  keep 

The  fight  at  doubtful  issue,  oft-times  win 

The  glorious  field,  and  triumph  over  God. 

Why  did  I  tempt  Iscariot  to  betray 

His  guiltless  master  ?  'Twas  not  that  I  lov'd 

The  traitor  ;  no,  the  treason  was  my  joy ; 

I  laugh  at  fools  in  their  own  folly  caught :     680 

The  wretch  I  tempted,  him  I  shall  destroy, 

And  like  a  worn-out  weapon  cast  him  by  ; 

He  shall  not  live  to  see  his  master's  fall, 

And  for  the  sorry  purchase  of  his  sin 

He  shall  but  touch  the  adder's  sting  and  die  : 

So  much  for  Judas  !  Thus  at  once  I  slay 

Two  victims,  and  refine  upon  revenge." [cheer- d 

To  whom,  with  clouded  brow,  and  nothing? 
By  this  discourse,  hell's  gloomy  power  reply'd : 

"  Mammon,  you  well  describe  the  rueful  change 
Wrought  in  us  by  our  overthrow  from  heav'n, 
And  for  such  solace  as  in  thought  you  find 
Pondering  the  sad  eternity  of  pain, 
My  argument  shall  never  be  em  ploy 'd 
To  make  that  little  less  ;  but  when  you  vaunt 
Iscariot's  treason  and  th'  impending  fall 
Of  that  just  person,  now  before  the  bar 
Of  envious  judges,  who  shall  doom  his  death, 
You  vaunt  a  deed,  which,  though  th*  elect  of  helL 
Jointly  with  nie  advis'd,  brings  on  us  all      700 


136  CALVARY;  OR,         [book  iv. 

Ruin,  with  loss  of  empire,  and  all  hope 
So  quenches,  nought  can  stand  us  now  instead 
But  patience  and  your  reconciling  rules 
To  wont  our  natures  to  eternal  pain. 
My  potency  you  know,  and  can  you  think 
Less  than  the  hand  of  God  could  hurl  me  down 
To  misery  like  this  ?  It  must  be  God, 
Who  speaks  in  Christ,  the  father  in  the  Son  : 
Though  meek,  Almighty  he  controls  the  world, 
And  me,  the  world's  late  master  ;  he  destroys 
Sin,  my  begotten,  and  sin's  offspring,  Death, 
Oh  !  that  I  never  had  approach'd  him  more, 
FoiPd  in  my  first  temptation.     Now,  ev'n  now, 
I  feel  a  nature  in  me,  not  mine  own, 
That  is  my  master,  and  against  my  will 
Enforces  truths  prophetic  from  my  tongue, 
Making  me  rev'rence  whom  in  heart  I  hate  : 
I  feel  that  now,  though  lifted  from  the  ground, 
I  stand  or  move  or  speak  but  as  he  wills, 
By  influence,  not  by  freedom  :  I  perceive    720 
These  exhalations,  that  the  nightbreathes  on  me, 
Are  loaded  with  the  vaporous  steams  of  hell  ; 
I  scent  them  in  the  air,  and  well  I  know 
The  angel  of  destruction  is  abroad. 
I  cannot  fly  from  fate  ;  the  man  foredoom'd 
To  bruise  my  head  is  Christ  :  the  time  is  come. 
The  prophecy  is  full ;  exil'd  from  hence, 
As  first  from  heaVn.  my  reign  on  earth  is  p*er< 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHBIST.  137 

And  my  last  care  is  for  those  hapless  friends, 
The  partners  of  my  fall,  when  I  am  gone     730 
Left  like  a  headless  trunk.     Warn  them  to  fly 
Impending  ruin  ;  sure  I  am,  when  Christ 
Breathes  forth  his  sacred  sp'rit  into  the  air, 
His  dying  gasp  shall  hlow  them  like  a  spell 
To  the  four  winds  of  heav'n.    Let  them  he  gone 
In  time,  and  ply  the  wing  ;  there's  shelter  yet 
In  this  wide  world  for  them.     Though  I  must 

hence, 
They  may  ahide;  and  though  theirnames  he  lost, 
Their  altars  leveli'd,  and  their  idols  maim'd, 
Yet  shall  their  arts  and  offices  endure,         740 
Ther  influences  still  shall  draw  the  hearts 
Of  many  ;  sin  shall  not  at  once  secede 
From  earth,  nor  darkness  wholly  yield  to  light. 
To  thee,  auspicious  sp'rit,  whose  potent  arm 
Hath  raised  me  from  the  ground,  I  can  assure 
A  longer  term  of  residence  and  power  : 
Thy  empire  in  earth's  inmost  centre  roots — 
Thy  influence  circulates  through  all  her  veins. 
Nor  earth  alone,  but  ocean  wafts  to  thee 
Continual  tribute  ;  commerce  hails  thy  name  : 
In  thee  war  triumphs — thee  fair  peace  adores, 
And  gilds  the  feathers  of  her  dove  with  gold, 
To  dedicate  to  thee  her  worldly  god — 
Thee,  the  last  foe  whom  Christ   shall  chase 
from  earth." 

S 


138  CALVARY ;  OK,         [book  iv. 

So  spake  the  parting  fiend  in  his  last  hour 
Prophetic,  father  though  he  were  of  lies. 
To  him  the  inferior  daemon  answer  none 
Attempted ;  but  in  ghastly  silence  stood 
Gazing  with  horror  on  his  chieftain's  face, 
That  chang'd  all  hues  by  fits,  as  when  the  north, 
With  nitrous  vapours  eharg-d,  convulsive  shoots 
Its  fiery  darts  athwart  the  trembling  pole, 
Making  heav'n's  vault  a  canopy  of  blood  ; 
So  o'er  the  visage  of  the  exorcis'd  fiend 
Alternate  gleams  like  meteors  came  and  went ; 
And  ever  and  anon  he  beat  his  breast, 
That  quick  and  short  withlab'ring  pulses  heav'd. 
One  piteous  look  he  upward  turn'd...one  sigh 
From  his  sad  heart  he  fain  had  sent  to  heav'n  ; 
But  ere  the  hopeless  messenger  could  leave  770 
His  quiv'ring  lips,  by  sudden  impulse  seiz'd, 
He  finds  himself  uplifted  from  the  earth  ; 
His  azure  wings,  to  sooty  black  now  chang'd, 
In  wide  expanse  from  either  shoulder  stretch 
For  flight  involuntary.     Up  he  springs 
Whirl'd  in  a  fiery  vortex  round  and  round  ; 
As  when  the  Lybian  wilderness,  caught  up 
In  sandy  pillar  by  the  eddying  winds, 
Moves  horrible,  the  grave  of  man  and  beast  ; 
Him  thus  ascending  the  forked  lightning  smites 
With  sidelong  volly,  whilst  loud  thunders  rock 
Heav'n's  echoing  vault,  when  all  at  once. behold! 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         139 

Caught  in  the  stream  of  an  impetuous  gust 
High  in  mid-air,  swift  on  the  level  wing 
Northward  he  shoots,  and  like  a  comet  leaves 
Long  fiery  track  behind,  speeding  his  course 
Straight  to  the  realms  of  Chaos  and  old  Night, 
Hell-bound,  and  to  Tartarean  darkness  doom'd. 

His  sad  associate,  left  on  earth,  look'd  up, 
And  v.  itli  like  conscious  terror  eyed  his  flight  ; 
As  when  the  merchant,  trembling  for  his  freight, 
Looks  seaward,  from  some  promontory's  top, 
And  thence  descries  his  gallant  bark  a  wreck 
Driving*  at  mercy  of  the  winds  and  waves 
Full  on  the  rocky  shoal,  her  certain  grave  y 
Then,  having  bid  farewell  to  all  his  hope, 
In  this  one  bottom  stor'd,  now  lost  to  sight, 
Turns  with  a  sigh  asidey  and  o'er  the  strand 
With  heavy  heart  takes  homeward  his  slow  way. 

So  sigh'd  the  fiend  ;  and  for  his  own  sad  fate 
Trembling,  yet  fearful  to  attempt  the  wing, 
Slunk  cow-ring  off,  veil'd  in  the  shades  of  night, 


END    OF  THE  FOURTH  BOOK. 


Ir; 


OR, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST, 


BOOK  V. 


ARGUMENT    OF    THE    FIFTH    BOOK. 


This  book,  proposing  to  treat  of  the  trial  end  condemnation  of  Christ, 
opens  with  an  invocation  to  the  Evangelists,  the  sacred  historians  of  that 
event.  Christ,  brought  before  the  priests  and  elders  in  council,  accused 
by  the  witnesses,  interrogated  by  Caiaphas,  persists  in  keeping  silence, 
till  being  solemnly  called  upon  to  declare  himself,  he  answers  by  an  af- 
firmation of  the  truth.  Instantly  all  voices  are  let  loose  upon  him,  ac- 
cusing him  of  blasphemy,  and  pronouncing  him  worthy  of  death  :  He 
is  delivered  over  to  mockery  and  insult.  The  jews  resolve  to  ar- 
raign him  before  Pilate  on  the  following  morning.  He  turns  and  looks 
upon  Peter,  who,  according  to  prediction,  had  three  several  limes  deni- 
ed him.  The  sorrow  and  contrition  of  that  disciple  is  described  ;  he 
retires  apart  to  bewail  his  crime  and  supplicate  forgiveness.  His  prayer 
and  confession  in  the  temple-porch.  The  council  of  the  Jews  resort  to 
Pilate  next  morning,  and  appeal  against  Christ.  He  informs  them, 
that,  by  the  Roman  law,  no  judgment  can  be  givftn,  till  the  accused  is 
confronted  with  his  accusers  and  heard  in  his  defence.  Now  commen- 
ces the  trial  of  Christ  before  Pilate,  who,  finding  nothing  worthy  of 
death  in  that  just  Person,  refers  hirn  to  Herod,  as  belonging  to  his  ju- 
risdiction. Herod,  after  mocking  him,  arrays  him  in  a  gorgeous  robe, 
and  in  that  apparel  sends  him  back  to  Pilate.  He  again  appears  in  the 
judgment-hall,  before  Pilate,  who,  after  many  fruitless  efforts  to  save 
him,  the  Jews  still  urging  him  by  their  clamorous  importunity  to  cruci- 
fy him,  finding  no  other  way  to  prevent  a  tumult  of  the  people,  after  de- 
claring himself  innocent  of  the  blood  of  Jesus,  by  the  ceremony  of 
washing  his  hands  before  the  multitude,  delivers  him  to  be  crucified. 


CALVARY,  &c, 


OOKV, 


THE  CONDEMNATION  OF  CHRIST. 

x  E  sacred  Guides,  whose  plain,   unvarnish'd 

page, 
Penn'd  by  the  hand  of  Truth,  records  the  scene, 
Where  Christ  before  the  bar  of  impious  men, 
Patient  of  ail  their  scorn,  arraign'd,  betray'd, 
And  of  his  own  abandon'd,  silent  stands, 
You  I  invoke  ;  so  from  the  same  pure  source, 
Whence  my  faith  flows,  shall  also  flow  my  song ; 
]Srot  idly  babbling,  like  that  shallow  rill 
Trickling  at  foot  of  the  Parnassian  Mount ; 
But  deep,  serene,  to  hallow -d  airs  attun'd  :     10 
Aid  me  from  heav'n,  where  now   before  Godrs 

throne 
In  evangelic  attributes  ye  stand, 
Six-wing' d  and  thick  bespangled  o'er  with  eyes, 
Ranging  all  points  before  you  and  behind, 
Seraphic  minstrels,  chanting  day  and  night 
Yourceasless  hallelujah's  to  the  name 
Of  Him,  who  was,  and  is,  and  is  to  come. 
Led  by  your  hand,  with  trembling  step  I,  pies* 


144  CALVARY  5  OR,  [book  v. 

The  sacred  ground,  which  my  Redeemer  trade, 
Now  like  a  lamb  to  slaughter  led,  and  now     SO 
Pendent  (Oh  horror!)  on  the  bloody  tree  ; 
And  whilst  to  tell  his  sacrifice  of  love, 
His  soul-dissolving  agonies,  I  strive, 
My  heart  melts  into  sorrows  deep  as  those 
When  the  sad  daughters  of  Jerusalem 
Water'd  his  passage  to  the  cross  with  tears, 

Musing  my  pious  theme,  as  fits  a  bard 
Far  onward  in  the  wint'ry  track  of  age, 
I  shun  the  Muses'  haunts,  nor  dalliance  hold 
With  fancy  by  the  way,  but  travel  on  30 

My  mournful  road,  a  pilgrim  grey  with  years  ; 
One  that  finds  little  favour  with  the  world, 
Yet  thankful  for  its  least  benevolence 
And  patient  of  its  taunts  ;  for  never  yet 
Lur'd  I  the  pop'lar  ear  with  gibing  tales, 
Or  sacrific'd  the  modesty  of  song, 
Harping  lewd  madrigals  at  drunken  feasts, 
To  make  the  vulgar  sport,  and  win  their  shout. 
Me  rather  the  still  voice  delights,  the  praise 
Whisper'd,   not  pnblish'd   by   fame's    braying 

trump :  40 

Be  thou  my  herald,  Nature  !   Let  me  please 
The  sacred  few — let  my  remembrance  live 
Embosom'd  by  the  virtuous  and  the  wise  ; 
Make   me,  O  Heav'n  !  by  those  who  love  thee, 

lov'd 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  145 

Bo  when,  the  widow's  and  the  children's  tears 
Shall  sprinkle  the  cold  dust,  in  which  I  sleep 
Pompless  and  from  a  scornful  world  withdrawn, 
The  laurel,  which  its  malice  rent,  shall  shoot 
So  water' d  into  life,  and  mantling  throw 
Its  verdant  honours  o'er  my  grassy  tomb.       50 

Here  in  mid- way  of  my  unfinish'd  course, 
Doubtful  of  future  time  whilst  now  I  pause 
To  fetch  new  breath  and  trim  my  waning  lamp. 
Fountain  of  Life,  if  I  have  still  ador'd 
Thy  mercy,  and  remembered  Thee  with  awe 
E'en  in  my  mirth,  in  the  gay  prime  of  youth — » 
So  conscience  witnesses,  the  mental  scribe, 
That  registers  my  errors,  quits  me  here — 
Propitious  Pow'r,  support  me  !  and  if  death, 
Near  at  the  farthest,  meditates  the  blow  6Q 

To  cut  me  short  in  my  prevented  task, 
Spare  me  a  little,  and  put  by  the  stroke, 
Till  I  recount  his  overthrow,  and  hail 
Thy  Son  victorious  rising  from  the  grave. 

Now  to  that  dismal  scene  return, my  thoughts  ! 
Where  Christ,  in  midst  of  an  irreverent  crew, 
Usher'd  by  torches  through  the  darkling  streets. 
And  now  at  summit  of  the  holy  Mount 
Arriv'd,  before  the  pontiff's  lofty  gate, 
Waiting  the  call  of  impious  pride,  attends.     70 
The  halls  and  lobbies  vomit  forth  a  swarm 
Of  saucy  servitors,  with  idiot  stare 

T 


146  CALVARY;  OK,  [book  v. 

Gazing  the  wond'rous  Man,  and  venting  lend 
Their  coward  mockeries  :  He  stands  unmov'd. 
Great  is  the  stir  within,  and  on  the  post 
Through  all  the  palace  runs  the  buzzing  news 
Of  this  great  Prophetrs  capture,  circling  round 
With  ever  new  enlargement  of  strange  sights 
And  fearful  doings  in  the  garden,  seen 
Of  those  who  took  him.     Caiaphas  meanwhile 
Summons  the  temple-chiefs,  elders,  and  scribes. 
A  hasty  Sanhedrim :  No  longer  now 
With  stately  step  in  measur'd  pace  they  march  ; 
Huddled  together  by  their  fears  they  flock, 
They  cluster  in  a  throng,  safest  so  tleem'd, 
And  fill  the  council  seats.     In  speech  abrupt 
And  brief  their  hierarch  the  cause  expounds 
Of  their  so  sudden  meeting — Christ  is  seiz'd... 
The  Prophet,  whom  they  dreaded,  is  in  hold... 
Tli'  Enchanter,  who,  by  league  with  Beelzebub, 
Scar'd  them  with  magic  spells,  is  at  their  door  ; 
Now  is  the  time  to  put  his  art  to  proof — 
Now  is  the  moment  to  decide  if  thus 
Their  unreveal'd  Messias  shall  appear 
After  long  promise  in  this  abject  state 
A  shackled  prisoner,  or  a  conquering  king. 
"Admit  him !"  with  faint  voice  some  two  or  three 
Of  the  least  timorous  cry,  "  Behold,  he  comes  !" 
The  rabble  throng  rush  in,  and  at  the  bar 
Of  the  immur'd  divan  present  him  bound    100 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         147 

With  en  tls,    his  raiment  soil'd  with  hands  pro- 

i  tne, 
His  head  uncover^  and  his  sacred  locks 
P    the  rude  winds  and  ruder  men  despoil'd 
Of  their  propriety  disheveli'd,  spread 
Like  shattered  fragments  on  the   branching  top 
Oi'  piny  Lebanon  after  a  storm. 

Silence  now  reiirn'd...the  roar  of  tongues  was 

hush'd, 
And  expectation,  with  suspended  hreath, 
Sate  watchful  when  some  sign  or  word  of  power 
Should  in  a  miracle  break  forth  upon  them.  110 
None  such  that  patient  Sufferer  rouchsaf'd, 
Nor  menace  nor  complaint  his  eye  bespake, 
But  meek,  serene  composure.     Noting  this, 
As  cowards  out  of  danger  loudest  vauntr  [heard 
The  council  now  took  heart :    Then   soon  were 
The  lying  tongues  of  witnesses  suborn'd 
Various  and  loud  ;  but  these  no  order  kept ; 
Falsehood  with  falsehood  clash'd,  and  each  to 

each 
Irreconcileable,  as  all  to  truth : 
Shame  held  the  council  mute  ;  for  vilest  hearts, 
Cloak'd  in  the  robes  of  judgment,  will  affect 
Some  outward  shew  of  what  they  ought  to  be, 
Then  most  malicious  when  most  seeming  just. 
Confusion  now  ensu'd,  and  perjury 
In  its  own  labyrinth  had  lost  itself. 


148  CALVARY;  OR,         [book  v. 

When  some  of  graver  note,  within  the  pale 
Of  justice  seated,  but  far  thence  remov'd 
In  conscience  and  in  heart,  started  new  charge^ 
Averring  they  had  heard  the  pris'ner  say, 
"  I  will  destroy  this  temple  made  with  hands, 
And  within  three  days  will  another  build 
Made  without  hands."     The  charge  was  grave- 
ly urg'd, 
And,  coiour'd  to  the  semblance  of  a  plot, 
Breath'd  sacrilegious  menace  to  God's  house. 
Fit  matter  for  descant  pontifical : 
When  Caiaphas,  as  foremost  in  degree^ 
So,  to  souud  forth  danger  first,  and  affix 
Solemnity  to  malice,  from  his  state 
With  magisterial  dignity  arose, 
And  sternly  fixing  on  the  face  divine  140 

His  eye  inquisitorial,  thus  began  : 

"  Hear*st  thou  what  these  alledge  :  the  words 
in  charge 
Stand  witness'd  by  these  present :  Face  to  face 
Th'  accusers  they  and  thou  th'  accused  meet  : 
Justice  is  open.     What  is  thy  defence  ?       [he, 
Answerest  thou  nothing?" — Nothing  answer'd 
But  as  a  lamb  before  its  shearer  's  mute 
He  open'd  not  his  mouth  ;  the  mystery  couch-d 
Under  those  words,  prophetic  of  his  death 
And  following  resurrection,  to  expound         150 
To  their  perverted  minds  beseem'd  not  him. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  149 

Searcher  of  hearts,  and  Saviour  of  mankind  : 
Silent  not  pertinacious  he  endur'd 
Their  scorn  ;  nor  did  his  meek  demeanor  shew 
More  than  the  dignity  of  conscious  truth, 
Which  knows  itself  prejudg'd,  and  scorns  a  plea. 

But  Caiaphas,  who  brook'd  not  this  repulse. 
And  still  occasion  sought  from  his  own  lips 
By  subtlety  t'  ensnare  him,  thus  rc-urg'd 
Question  with  solemn  adjuration  back'd  ;     160 
u  Hear  me,  thou  man  accus-d,  and  answer  make 
I  do  adjure  thee  by  the  living  God 
To  what  I  now  demand.     Art  thou  the  Christ. 
The  very  Christ,  Son  of  th'  eternal  God, 
Or  art  thou  not  ?  Resolve  us  who  thou  art  I" 

Then  Jesus,  by  this  solemn  adjuration  urg'd, 
Lifting  his  eyes  to  heav'n  in  mute  appeal. 
Whilst  all  his  Father's  virtue  in  his  face 
Effulgent   beam'd,   these    glorious  words   pro- 
nounc'd  :  [earth, 

"  Hear  them,  O  heav'n,   and  Oh  !  record  them, 
Write  them,  ye  mortals,  on  your  hearts — I  am, 
1  am  the  Christ  ;  all  that  you  ask  I  am  ; 
And  ye  shall  see  me  coming  in  the  clouds 
Of  Heav'n,  enthron'd    at  the   right  hand   of 
Pow'r.'* 

As  when  on  rapine  bent,  a  savage  horde, 
Arab  or  Indian,  in  some  sandy  dell 
Or  by  the  sedgy  lake  in  ambush  lodg'd, 


150  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  v 

Upon  the  watch-word  by  their  leader  giv'n 
Leap  from  their  treach'rous  lair,  with  sudden 

yell 

And  bloody  weapons  waving  to  surprise       180 
And  overpower  th'  unguarded  trav'ller, 
Fatally  trapp'd  into  their  murderous  snare  ; 
So  at  the  signal  of  their  priestly  chief 
Up  rose  the  dire  divan  with  rushing  sound, 
Like  roar  of  distant  waters.     Terror-struck, 
Frantic  as  Bromius,  with  furious  hands 
Th'  enthusiastic  hierarch  seiz'd  his  robes, 
And  into  tatters,  like  a  cancell'd  scroll, 
Tore  them,  exclaiming  vehement  and  loud, 
That  all  might  hear—"  What  need  of  further 

proof?  [sirs  ? 

Ye  have  heard  his  blasphemy.     How  think  ye, 
What  may  such  crime  deserve  ?"    Th'  infuriate 

priests, 
Seiz'dby  like  phrensy,  with  one  voice  pronounce, 
"  Death  be  his  sentence  !"    Death  through  all 

the  hall 
Rebounding  echoes  back  th'  accurs'd  decree. 
Horrible  sentence  !  Murder  hatch'd  in  hell ; 
Libation  for  the  fiends  !  Daemons,  on  you 
And  on  your  generations  to  all  time 
His  righteous  blood  shall  rest.  Now  uproar  wild 
And  horrid  din  succeeds.     The  scoffing  crowd 
Rush  to  the  bar,  so  privileged,  and  there 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         151 

With  scurril  taunts  and  blasphemies  revile 
The  patient  Son  of  God.  Oh  !  thought  of  horror-! 
The  Saviour  of  mankind  revil'd  by  man, 
The  just  by  th'  unjust !  Others,  more  profane, 
Vent  their  vile  rheum  upon  his  sacred  face, 
Or  smite  him  with  their  palms,  then  gibing  cry, 
t:  Tell   us   who     smote  thee  ;    prophesy,    thou 
Christ."  [doom 

Monsters,  that  Christ  hath  prophecied,  your 
Already  by  that  prophet  is  pronounc'd,  210 

The  lips  you  strike  have  utter'd  it :  Behold  ! 
Jerusalem  is  fall'n,  her  towers  arc  dust, 
Your  city  smokes  in  ruin  :  Lo  !  what  piles 
Of  mangled  carcases  :  what  horrid  scenes 
Of  violated  matrons  :  Hark  !  what  screams 
Of  infants  butcher'd  in  their  mothers'  arms  ; 
And  look  !  your  temple  blazes  to  the  sky  ; 
Its  beams  of  cedar  overlaid  with  gold, 
Its  fretted  roof  with  carvings  rich  emboss'd, 
And  all  its  glorious  splendor  feed  the  flames 
Insatiate  ;  mark  how  high  their  serpent  spires 
Hissing  ascend  :  God  fans  them  in  his  ire  : 
Thither  the  wild  beasts  of  the  desart  hie... 
There    carrion  owls  by  midnight  haunt.. .there 

dwells 
The  dragon  and  the  satyrs  dance  :  'Tis  done  ! 
That  prophecy  is  seaPd.     There  yet  remains 
An  awful  consummation  un reveal'*]. 


i52  CALVARY;    OR,         [book  v. 

Till  God  shall  gather  up  your  seatter'd  race 
Still  vagrant  o'er  th'  inhospitahle  earth. 
Ah  !  wretched  people,  broken  and  dispersed. 
Did  ye  preserve  the  oracles  of  God 
But  to  convict  your  own  obduracy  ? 
Sad  nation,  on  whose  neck  the  iron  yoke 
Of  persecution  hard,  too  hard,  hath  lain. 
And  yet  lies  heavy,  will  ye  not  accept 
A  High  Priest,  holy,  harmless,  undefil'd, 
From  sinners  sep'rate,  and  exalted  high 
Above  the  heavens  ?  And  do  ye  not  perceive 
The  word  of  Jesus  in  yourselves  fulfill'd  ? 
Rue  then  the  prophecy,  which  you  provok'd, 
Of  faithless  fathers  ye  still  faithless  sons  ! 
Whilst  shuddering  I  recount  the  impious  taunts 
Of  that  blaspheming  rout :  But  neither  taunts 
Nor  violence  could  shake  the  Saviour's  peace  ; 
He  in  his  own  pure  sp'rit  collected  stood, 
Nor  of  their  base  revilings  took  account,   [ny'd 
'Twas  now  that  Christ,  knowing  himself  de- 
Three  times  of  Peter,  turn'd  and  look'd  upon 

him. 
He  from  the  garden,  where  his  Lord  was  seiz'd, 
Following  at  distance  Judas  and  his  band,  250 
Had  kept  his  eye  upon  their  moving  fires, 
And  up  the  sacred  Mount  pursued  their  track, 
Till  at  the  palace-door  he  stood  and  sought 
Admission  with  the  crowd  ;  when  there, behold  ' 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  153 

A  damsel  at  the  portal  scans  him  o'er 
With  scrutinizing  eye,  and  straight  exclaims, 
M  Thou  too  wert  in  this  Galilean  train  ; 
Thou  art  of  Jesus."— Sudden  to  his  heart 
The  coward  tremor  runs,  and  there  suggests 
The  fear-conceived  lie  ;  before  them  all        260 
With  confidence  to  falsehood  ill  apply'd, 
"I  know  not  what  thou  say'st,"  he  straight  avers, 
And  to  the  porch  goes  forth.     There  in  his  ear 
The  cock  his  first  shrill  warning  gives,  and  sings 
The  knell  of  constancy's  predicted  breach — 
Of  constancy,  alas  !  too  strongly  vouch'd 
By  him  in  rash  and  over-weening  zeal, 
Boasting  like  martyrdom  with  Christ  himself. 
Sole  sacrifice  appointed  for  mankind. 
But  he,  though  of  presumption  warn'd,  by  fear 
Still  haunted  and  the  guilty  dread  of  death, 
Straight  to  a  second  questioner  replies— 
"  I  do  not  know  the  man*' — and  to  engage 
Belief,  binds  down  the  falsehood  with  an  oath... 
Fatal  appeal  to  Heav'n  !  insult  to  God 
And  his  all-righteous  ears  !  Is  this  the  man, 
Wiio  with  such  glowing  ardour,  self-assur'd — 
4-  Though  all  shall  be  offended,  I  will  not" — 
Proudly  averr'd,  and  for  that  pride  reprov'd — 
fi  Though  I  should  die  with  thee,"  dauntless  re^ 
join'd,  280 

^  Yet  will  I  not  deny  thee"  ? — Man,  weak  man, 

U 


154  CALVARY;    OR,         [book  y, 

Piide  was  not  made  for  thee.     If  Peter  fell 
Presuming,  who  shall  say,  Behold!  I  stand 
In  my  own  strength,  nor  ask  support  of  God  ? 
And  now,  as  if  devoted  to  his  shame, 
Curious  to  pry,  yet  fearful  to  he  seen, 
He  mixes  with  the  throng  that  crowd  the  hall  ; 
And   there  once   more   is    challenged   for  his 

speech, 
As  fav'ring  of  the  Galilean  phrase  ; 
Then  with  reiterated  oaths  ahjures  290 

His  Master  the  third  time  ;  when  hark  !  again 
The  cock's  loud  signal  echoes  hack  the  lie 
In  his  convicted  ear  ;  the  prophet  hird 
Strains  his  recording  throat,  and  up  to  heav'n 
Trumpets  the  trehled  perjury,  and  claps 
His  wings  in  triumph  o'er  presumption's  fall. 

Oh  !  fall'n  how  low,  is  this  thy  proinis'd  faith, 
Favour'd  of  Christ  so  highly  ?    Know'st  thou 

not, 
Disciple,  thine  own  Lord  ?  or  know'st  him  only 
In  safety.. .in  prosperity.. .in  power,  300 

For  thine  own  selfish  ends. ..a  summer  guest, 
Prone  to  desert  him  in  the  wint'ry  hour 
Of  tribulation,  poverty,  and  woe  ? 
Is  thy  frail  mem'ry  of  that  slipp'ry  stuff, 
That  a  friend's  sorrow  washes  out  all  trace 
Of  a  friend's  features?  Look  upon  his  eyes  ! 
Behold,  they  turn  on   thee :    Them  dost  thou 

know  ? 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHEIST.  155 

Their  language  canst  thou  read,  and  from  them 

draw 
The  conscious  reminiscence  thou  disown'st  ? 
Mark,  is   their  sweetness  lost?  Ah  !  no  ;  they 

he  am  310 

Celestial  grace,  a  sanctity  of  soul 
So  melting  soft  with  pity,  such  a  gleam 
Of  love  divine  attempting  mild  reproof, 
"Where  is  the  man,  that  to  obtain  that  eye 
Of  mercy  on  his  sins  would  not  forego 
Life's  dearest  comforts  to  embrace  such  hope  ? 
O  death,  death  !  where  would  be  thy  sting,  or 

where 
These  awful  tremblings,  which  thy  coming  stirs 
In  my  too  conscious  breast,  might  I  aspire 
To  hope  my  Judge  would  greet   me  with  that 

look  ? 
Vaunt  not  yourselves,  ye  scorners,  nor  exult 
In  this  recital  of  a  good  man's  fall, 
Faithful  historian  of  his  own  offence : 
But  rather  let  it  physic  your  proud  spleen 
To  mark  how  mean,  prevaricating,  false 
And  despicable  a  vain-glorious  man. 
Peter's  denial,  David's  heinous  sin, 
And  all  the  guilty  lapses  of  man's  heart, 
Though  summ'd  together  into  one  account, 
Each  spot  and  blemish  malice  can  search  out 
To  tarnish  the  fair  lustre  of  a  name, 


136  CALVARY;  OR,         [book  v. 

Stand  but  as  lessons  of  humility, 
Warnings  of  frailty  to  o'er-weening  man  ; 
And  if  our  mournful  page  hath  now  set  forth 
The  fail  of  virtue,  let  it  next  record 
Its  glorious  resurrection  :    We  have  shewn 
Th'  offender  in  his  shame  ;  what  now  remains 
But  to  display  the  penitent  ?  Behold  ! 
Abash'd  he  stands,  bath'd  in  remorseful  tears  : 
One  glance  from  his  beloved  Master's  eye,    340 
Like  Nathan's  parable,  hath  rous'd  from  sleep 
His  drowsy  conscience.    Mark,  where  he  retires 
To  weep  in  Solitude,  and  purge  his  heart 
By  sorrowful  repentance  of  its  guilt. 
O  Peter  !  could  my  verse  fit  offering  make, 
That  verse  should  be  bestow'd  upon  thy  tears* 
Now  the  assembled  elders  and  their  chief, 
After  short  consultation  had,  resolve 
With  the  next  dawn  of  morning  to  arraign 
Their  Prisoner  at  the  praetorian  bar  350 

Of  Pilate,  procurator  for  the  State 
Imperial  of  Rome  and  Caesar  ;  he 
Held  judgment  sovereign  of  life  and  death 
In  tributary  Jewry... judge  corrupt, 
And,  like  Rome's  venal  emissaries,  prone 
To  every  sordid  purpose  ;  train'd  in  blood 
And  for  tribunal  bloody  therefore  fit. 

Meanwhile,  forth  issuing  from  the  fatal  hall> 
Scene  of  his  shame,  the  sad  disciple  took 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         157 

His  pensive  way  across  the  temple-court       300 
Silent  and  solitary,  seeking  where 
T'  unbosom  his  full  sorrows  and  give  up 
His  soul  to  prayer,  and  pardon  seek  of  God 
For  his  revolt.     Pale  through   night's    curtain 

gleam'd, 
By  fits,  the  lunar  intermittent  ray ; 
That  quiv'ring  serv'd  to  light  his  lonely  steps 
To  the  fair  gate  call'd  Beautiful,  whose  porch 
High  over  arch'd,  on  writhed  columns  propp'd 
Of  spiral  brass  convolv'd,  was  for  its  shade, 
Of  Christ  and  his  disciples,  much  in  quest.  370 

Hither  he  came,  and  falling  on  his  knees, 
Like  th'  humble  publican,  smote  on  his  breast, 
And  this  confession  self-accusing  made  : 

';  Here  let  me  fall,  and  in  repentant  tears 
Weep  out  my  soul  upon  these  pit'less  stones. 
Made  sacred  by  his  steps,  whose  awful  name 
Thrice  blasphem'd,  thrice  abjur'd,    I  dare  not 

speak, 
Though  in  my  supplication.     Can  I  say, 
Spare  me,  O  God  of  mercy  ?     Can  I  ask 
Pardon  of  God,  unpardon'd  of  myself  ?  380 

Oh  !  wretched  recreant  creature  as  I  am, 
What  shall  redeem  me  from  this  misery, 
And  reconcile  my  conscience  to  itself.., 
A  perjur'd  conscience  ?     Never  more  can  peace 
Dwell  in  this  bosom  :  never  can  my  soul 


158  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  v. 

Ascend  out  of  the  dust,  or  lift  a  thought 

In  hope  tow'rds  heav'n.     With   Judas  let  me 

dwell, 
Colleague  in  treason  ;  with  his  sin  my  sin 
In  th'  execration  of  all  time  be  link'd. 
Or  shall  I  venture  to  look  up  and  say,  390 

0  God,  behold  a  wretch,  who  dares  not  sue 
For  mercy  but  for  mitigated  wrath — 

For  punishment  proportion^  to  my  bearing, 

Protracted,  not  too  sudden,  lest  it  take 

My  senses  from  me,  and  with  them  all  power 

Of  meditation,  penance,  and  atonement  ? 

Spare  me  a  little  to  abhor  myself; 

And  if  the  arrow  which  my  conscience  drives 

Into  this  guilty  heart,  draws  not  enough 

Of  its  vile  blood  to  purify  what  rs  left,  400 

Let  the  strong  hand  of  justice  force  it  home 

And  finish  me  at  once.     Was  I  not  warn*d 

Of  my  presumption,  and  a  signal  set 

To  number  my  denials,  when  I  swore 

"Never  to  swerve,  but  follow  him  to  death  ? 

Mine, like  Iscariot's,  was  predicted  sin: 

1  spar'd  not  him — I  call'd  his  wilful  guilt, 
Obstinate  malice  ;  and  can  I  now  urge 
Necessity  my  plea  ?     All  things  are  known 

To  Christ  :  the  evil  motions  of  my  will       410 
He  saw,  not  over-rui'd.     I  might  have  pray'd 
For  grace,  support,  prevention  ;  I  pray'd  not. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHKIST.         159 

But  heedless  of  the  prophecy,  and  blind, 
Rush'd  into  sin  prepense,  self-wuTd,  sell-lost. 
What  fascination  seiz-d  me  to  draw  forth 
The  sword  in  rash  defence  of  Ilim,  whose  word 
Legions  of  angels  could  have  call'd  from  heav'n  ? 
And  what  prevaricating*  daemon  breath'd 
The  lie  into  my  lips,  when  the  same  night, 
Nay,  the  same  hour,  that  saw  mc  prompt  t'  op- 
pose 420 
My  life  to  danger,  saw  me  meanly  shrink 
From  what  I  courted,  and  behind  a  lie, 
Three  times  repeated,  like  a  coward  sculk  ? 
And  did  I  not  know  Christ  whom  I  deny'd  ? 
Did  I  not  know  the  Master  whom  I  serv'd, 
Who  call'd  me  to  him,  pour'd  into  my  heart 
His  heav'nly  doctrines,  rais'd  my  lowly  thoughts 
From  the  mean  drudg'ry  of  a  fisher's  trade, 
And  taught  me,  in  the  energy  of  faith, 
To  walk  upon  that  sea,  in  which  ere-while  430 
1  dragg'd  the  net,  and  toil'd  for  daily  bread  ? 

0  mem'ry,  once  my  glory,  now  my  curse, 
To  what  sad  purpose  do  I  call  thee  home, 
Absent  in  danger,  present  in  despair  ? 

Is  there  a  wonder  done  by  Christ  on  earth 

1  have  not  witness'd  ?    Did  I  not  behold 
Dead  Lazarus  revive  at  his  command  ? 
What  shall  T  say  to  him,  whom  I  saw  die, 
When  living  he  arraigns  me  face  to  face  ? 


160  CALVARY;  OR,  [book  v, 

What   answer  make   to  those,   whom   I  have 
serv'd  [sands  ? 

From  one  small  wallet  with  the  bread  of  thou- 
The  very  blind,  ere  they  receiv'd  their  sight, 
Saw  more  than  I,  and  hail'dhim  Lord  and  Christ, 
Who  shall  believe  when  I  renounce  belief  ? 
The  very  devils  own  him  whom  I  deny'd. 
Can  I  call  these  accurst,  whose  impious  cry 
Dooms  him  to  death  ;  who  smite  him  with  their 
palnis  [heart. 

Blaspheming?    Harder  than  their    hands  my 
Wretch,  'twas  my  false  tongue  train'd  them  on 

to  murder ; 
On  me,  me  only  all  their  sin  rebounds  :         450 
I  stand  condemned — they  free.     Can  I  forget 
How  oft  my  lips  confess'd  him  Son  of  God  ? 
Perish  that  tongue,  which  could  revoke  its  faith, 
Disown  confession  and  belie  my  heart. 
Denied  of  me  on  earth,  when  in  the  clouds 
Of  heav'n  he  comes  at  the  right  hand  of  Pow'r, 
And  sends  his  Angels  with  the  trumpet's  sound 
To  gather  his  elect  from  the  four  winds, 
When,  as  a  shepherd  culling  out  his  flock, 
To  separate  all  nations,  and  divide  4Gd 

The  good  from  evil,  he  proceeds,  Ah  !  then. 
Then  will  he  not  retort  the  fatal  words 
First  us'd  of  me,  "  I  know  thee  not  !  Depart, 
Thou  wiokcd  «ervani,  into  outer  darknc>s 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         16 1 

There  weep  and  gnash  thy  teeth,  in  fires  prepar'd 
For  Satan  and  his  out-cast  crew  accurst  ?" 
Thus  he  all  night,  with  deep   remorse  o'er- 
whciin'd, 
Mournfully  kneeling  at  God's  temple-gate, 
Bewail'd  his  crime,  and  supplication  made 
For  pardon  ;  and  let  after-times  attest         470 
How  full  a  portion  of  God's  sp'rit  abode 
In  this  blest  penitent,  when,  with  the  sound 
Of  rushing  mighty  winds,  it  was  pour'd  down 
On  him  and  on  his  fellows,  thence  install'd 
Apostles,  and  with  gifted  tongues  inspir'd 
To  speak  all  languages  and  preach  the  word 
Of  Christ   throughout  the    whole   converted 

world. 
Here  in  this  very  spot,  where  now  he  kneels 
Repentant,  fill'd  ere  long  with  pow'r  divine, 
He  bade  the  cripple,  in  the  name  of  Christ,  480 
Rise  up  and  walk.     He  at  the  word,  in  sight 
Of  all  the  people,  rose,  and  stood,  and  walk'd, 
And  in  the  temple  gave  loud  praise  to  God. 
Then  let  not  his  offence,  pardon'd  of  God, 
By  man  but  for  example's  sake  be  nam'd, 
And  once  more,  hail,  thou  renovated  saint ! 
Made  brighter  by  repentance.     Enter  thou 
Into  thy  Master's  joy  once  more  ;  resume 
Thine  apostolic  primacy,  and  feed, 
Shepherd  of  Christ  deputed,  feed  his  flock  :  490 

X 


162  CALVARY;  OK,         [book  v. 

'Nov  shall  thy  faith  once  faulter,  nor  thy  zeal 
Shrink  from  the  test  of  martyrdom,  resery'd 
To  glorify  thy  Master  on  the  cross. 

Ji"ow  morning  from  her  cloudy  harrier  forth 
Advancing,  crimson'd  all  the  fiecker'd  East, 
As  blushing  to  lead  on  the  guilty  day. 
With  the  first  dawn  the  wakeful  elders  meet... 
Short  council  hold  ;  for  little  time  sumc'd 
To  take  their  voices,  whose  relentless  minds 
In  the  same  bloody  league  were  banded  all ;  500 
And  now,  unanimous  with  their  high  priest, 
In  stately,  grave  procession  forth  they  march 
To  find  their  heathen  judge,  and  at  his  bar 
Arraign  the  Holy  One. — But  check,  my  heart, 
Thine  indignation  ;  let  the  verse  proceed  ! — 
Him,  in  his  seat  of  judgment  high  enthron'd, 
With  axes  and  with  lictors  round  embay'd 
In  martial  state,  witli  reverence  they  salute, 
And  lowly  stoop  their  tributary  heads 
To  his  vicegerent  majesty.     With  smile       5L0 
Of  condescending  favour  he  accepts 
Their  abject  greeting,  and  to  his  right  hand 
Their  chief  advances  ;  others  in  their  ranks 
And  orders  he  disposes  ;  then  with  feign'd 
Solicitude,  as  if  to  seek  the  cause 
Of  this  concerted  meeting,  he  begins  : 

"  What  cause  so  weighty  brings  Jehovah's 
priests 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         163 

With  these  wise  elders  and  time-honor'd  scribes 
Thus  early  to  seek  justice  at  my  bar? 
Appeal  so  reverend,  with  such  leader  grac'd,  520 
And  by  such  followers  witness'd,  well  demands 
Of  Caesar's  servant  his  most  equal  ear." 

Whereto  th'  high-priest,  second  to  none    in 

craft, 
With  solemn  accent  and  demeanor  grave 
Masking  his  base  collusion,  thus  replies  : 

t;  When  he,  whose  hand  the  sword  of  justice 

sways, 
Her  balance  also  holds  in  equal  poise 
Over  this  realm  provincial,  we  have  cause 
To  thank  the  master  of  our  liberties. 
Who,  by  such  delegation  of  his  power,  530 

Makes  light  that  yoke,  which  else  would  gall  our 

necks, 
Though  Csesar  lays  it  on  us.     Then  let  praise 
Be  giv'n  to  Caesar  for  the  love  we  bear 
To  Pontius  Pilate.     Have  I  leave  to  say, 
That  we,  your  servants,  a  peculiar  race, 
Pay  worship  to  one  God,  and  hold  at  heart 
As  sacred  that  commandment  handed  down 
From  our  forefathers,  which  forever  makes 
His  undivided  Unity  the  creed 
Of  all  our  nation  ;  and  whoe'er  blasphemes  540 
His  name  and  controverts  our  holy  faith,. 
Dies  by  our  law  ?   This  sentence  we  have  pass'd, 


l?4  CALVAJtY;   Ott,  [book  v. 

But  execution  staid,  so  bound  in  duty, 
Upon  a  certain  Nazarite,  by  name 
Jesus,  obscure  of  birth,  but  of  our  peace 
Ko   ?  ^ht  disturber ;  for  the  common  herd, 
A  v     ister  as  you  know  with  many  heads, 
And  every  head  with  twice  as  many  ears 
It     I  ig  for  novelties,  have  rais'd  this  man 
To  dang'rous  eminence  ;  and  (for  he  cheats  550 
Their  gross  credulity  with  juggling  sleights 
Whfcli  they  call  miracles)  have  blown  his  pride 
To  such  a  monstrous  bulk,  he  now  scales  heav'n, 
There  seats  himself — Oh  !  where  shall  I  find 

words 
To  speak  his  blasphemy  ?— at  God's  right  hand; 
His  Son. obis  equal. ..sharer  of  his  throi  e... 
Judge  of  the  world.     If  this  he  not  a  crime 
For  death  to  expiate  we  are  slaves  indeed, 
And  every  statute,  ordinance,  and  law 
Borne  leaves  inviolate,  Jesus  shall  break       560 
Unpunish'd  :  Nor  is  this,  dread  sir,  the  whole 
Of  his  presumption  ;  mark,  I  pray,  the  height 
To  which  his  phrensy  rages  ;  mark  his  threat ! 
He  will  put  down  this  temple  in  three  days, 
And  in  like  time,  with  hands  invisible, 
Erect  another.— Patron  of  our  laws, 
Fountain  of  justice  !  ought  this  man  to  live  ? 
Such  madness  breath'dinto  our  people's  minds 
Will  spur  them  to  the  deed,. .break  every  band 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  165 

That  ties  them  down  to  order,  and  turn  loose 
Their  fury,  not  on  us  alone,  but  Rome  ; 
Not  on  our  temple  only,  but  perhaps 
On  this  tribunal,  which  heav'n  guard  !  And  now 
Take  the  whole  matter  of  our  charge  at  once  : 
This  Jesus  hath  pronounc'd  himself  a  king... 
Our  king,  your  masters  rival :  You  best  know 
If  your  great  cmp'ror  abdicates  his  right 
To  our  allegiance,  which  we  fain  would  hold 
Where  we  have  vow'd  it,  to  imperial  Caesar, 
Not  to  this  mean  mechanic,  Joseph's  son.     580 
This  is  our  plea,  O  Pontius,  why  we  claim 
Justice  against  the  Pris'ner,  who  now  waits 
Your  sentence  under  guard  and  bound,  as  fits 
Delinquent  so  atrocious  :  I  have  said." 

To  him  the  Roman — "  Be  it  known  to  all, 
The  sentence,  which  you  urge  against  the  life 
Of  your  now  absent  pris'ner,  cannot  pass 
By  practice  of  our  law,  till  face  to  face 
"With  his  accusers  he  shall  stand  at  bar, 
And  licence  have  to  answer  for  himself         590 
Touching  the  crime  in  charge  ;  therefore  these 

words, 
Which  you  have  largely  spent,  are  spent  in  air, 
Else  might  the  ear  of  justice  be  forestall'd 
By  the  empleader's  charge,  and  so  perchance 
Let  fall  the  axe  upon  the  guiltless  head. 
Much  knowledge  of  your  laws  I  cannot  boast, 


166  CALVARY;    OH,         [book  y. 

Nor  with  these  learned  scribes  hold  argument  ; 

For  so  much  therefore  as  to  them  pertains, 

I  on  the  part  of  Csesar  am  no  judge  ; 

His  tributes,  his  supremacy  and  rights,         600 

Disputed  or  oppos'd,  I  shall  uphold 

'Gainst  all  offenders.     Let  th*  aecus'd  appear  !'* 

This  said,  behold  the  blessed  Son  of  God 
TJragg'd  to  a  pagan  bar  !  There  whilst  he  stood 
A  spectacle  of  pity,  patient,  meek, 
Submitted  to  his  fate,  Pilate,  who  knew 
Hiin  innocent  and  his  accusers  false, 
Envious  and  cruel,  eyM  him  o'er  and  o'er, 
And  as  he  ponder' d  in  his  mind  how  base 
The  sentence  he  was  now  requir'd  to  give,  610 
Some  sparks  of  Roman  virtue,  not  quite  dead, 
Though  faintly  felt  in  his  degen'rate  breast, 
Revolted  from  the  deed  :  Soft  was  the  touch, 
Though  ineffectual,  which  sweet  pity  gave 
To  his  stern  heart :  He  wish'd,   yet  knew  not 

how, 
T'  unfold  the  gates  of  mercy,  and  through  them 
Let  pass  the  rescued  Innocent  to  life  ; 
The  son  of  Epicurus  could  no  more. 
Upon  the  sufferer's  brow  serene  he  saw 
Where  innocence  and  sanctity  enthron'd       $20 
Sate  >isible,  and  claiin'd  his  just  award  : 
He  turn'd  him  to  th'  accusers  and  beheld 
Such  malice,  as  brought  up  to  view  a  groupe 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  1G7 

Of  his  own  furies  from  their  fabled  hell  ; 
Then  with  a  frown  he  cries,  "  What  law  is  your'sS, 
Which  makes  this  man  a  culprit  ere  he's  tried  ? 
Unman acle  his  limbs  !  A  Roman  judge 
Hears  no  man  plead  in  shackles  ;  he  who  speaks 
In  life's  defence,  hath  call  for  every  aid 
That  nature  can  bestow,  free  use  of  limbs,    630 
Action  and  utterance  to  grace  his  cause, 
And  hold  him  up  against  the  world's  contempt  ; 
I  will  not  hear  a  man  that  pleads  in  bonds. 
Cut  those  vile  cords  asunder  :  Set  him  loose  !" 
And  now  our  blessed  Lord,  his  arms  releas'd 
From  the  harsh  {hongs,   which  the  malignant 

Jews 
Had  bound  about  them,  *gan  to  recompose 
His  decent  vesture,  and  with  calm  survey 
To  note  his  persecutors,  those  dire  priests 
And  cruel  hypocrites  that  bay'd  him  round.  640 
In  every  breast,  transparent  to  his  eye, 
Malice,  and  craft,  and  envy  he  discern'd  : 
In  Pilate's  face  the  shifting  hues  bespoke 
Internal  strife  of  passions  all  in  arms- — 
Combat  'twixt  good  and  evil :  In  his  hand 
He  held  a  scroll,  which  with  intentive  eye 
And  thoughtful  brow  deep  pond'ring  he  perus'd : 
The  writing  well  he  kuew,  but  the  contents, 
Thus   worded,   much   perplex'd   his    wav'ring 

thoughts : 


168  CALVARY;  OR,  [book  v. 

"  O  Pilate,  if  thy  wile  was  ever  held        650 
In  honor,  love,  or  trust,  I  do  adjure  thee 
This  once  take  warning  from  her  voice  inspir'd 
To  snatcli  thee  from  destruction.    Oh !  withhold 
Thine  hand  from  that  just  person,  harm  not  him, 
That  holy  Jesus,  who  now  stands  before  thee ; 
Touch  not  Iiis  sacred  life,  or  on  thine  head 
A  fearful  judgment  thou  shalt  else  pull  down  : 
A  mighty  Pow'r  protects  him,  what  I  know  not, 
But  mightier  sure  than  all  the  gods  of  Rome  ; 
For  I  have  seen  his  glory  in  a  dream,    [ware  !" 
And  dreams  descend  fromheav'n.     Pilate,  be- 

Such  was  the  warning  scroll  he  now  perus'd. 
Ev'n  on  the  judgment  seat,  by  timely  hand 
Sent  for  his  rescue  :  Happy  !  had  he  turn'd 
His  heart  so  warn'd  to  justice,  and  obey'd 
The  visitation  of  the  spirit  vouchsafe  : 
But  he,  like  Csesar,  deem'd  his  manhood  pledg'd 
To  make  slight  'count  of  a  weak  woman's  dream , 
Yet  much  confus'd,  uncertain  and  perplex'd, 
He  look'd  around  and  saw  all  eyes  upon  him  : 
The  Jews  impatient,  Jesus  at  the  bar 
Prepared  for  trial :  What  shall  he  resolve  ? 
Break  up  the  court  and  judgment  put  aside 
For  a  mere  vapor — for  no  better  plea 
Than  to  indulge  a  woman's  fond  caprice, 
And  bid  the  law  stand  still  and  wait  the  time 
"Till    Pilate's    wife    shall  meet   with   better 
dreams  r" 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  169 

Such  scorn  he  dar'd  not  to  provoke  ;  and  now 
Loud  murmurs  fill'd  his  ear :  Compell'd  to  rise, 
Though  uncollected,  and  in  mind  disturbed,  680 
He  thus  address'd  the  Lord :  "  Art  thou  a  king', 
And  of  this  nation,  who  accuse  thee  to  me, 
King  of  the  Jews  ?" — "Thou  say'st   it,"  Jesus 

cry'd : 
"  But  say'st  thou  of  thyself  this  thing,  or,  taught 
Of  others,  art  thou  prompted  so  to  speak  ? — 
Am  I  a  Jew  ?"  the  fault'ring  judge  reply'd  5 
M  Not  I,  but  these,  who  if  thou  wert  a  king 
Were  thine  own  subjects,   elders,  priests  and 

scribes, 
These  have  accus'd  thee.     Not  of  them  am  I ; 
Nor  in  this  business  covet  further  share,      690 
Than,  on  the  part  of  justice,  to  demand, 
What  hast  thou  done  ?    How  answer'st  thou 

their  charge  ?"  [Lord, 

"  Of  this  world  were  my  kingdom,"  said  our 

"My  servants  would  defend  their  King,   and 

fight 
To  save  me  from  my  oppressors  :  But  I  reign 
Not  on  this  earth,  nor  is  my  pow'r  from  hence." 
"  Art   thou  a  king,  then  ?" — interpos'd  the 

judge : 
u  Thou  say'st,"  cry'd  Jesus,  "  that  I  am  a  king  5 
And  truly  to  this  purpose  was  I  born, 
And  for  this  cause  came  I  into  the  world,    700 

Y 


170  CALVAHY;    Oil,  [book  v. 

That  I  should  witness  bear  unto  the  Truth  ; 
A  id  all,  that  to  the  Truth  belong,  hear  me." 
"  What  is   the   Truth  ?"  said  Pilate  ;  but  his 

voice 
Now  faulter'd,  and  his  thoughts  unsettled,  wild 
And  driv'n  at  random  like  a  wreck,  could  grasp 
No  helm  of  reason  ;  only  this  he  knew, 
There  was  no  fault  before  him  :  This  aloud 
To  all  he  published,  and  pronounc'd  him  clear. 
Whereat,  with  rage  and  disappointment  stung, 
Furious  as  wolves  defrauded  of  their  prey,  710 
Uprose  the  priests  appellant,  and  afresh 
Urge  o'er  and  o'er  their  aggravating  charge, 
Forging  new  falsehoods  and  re-forging  old  : 
The  Preacher  of  forbearance,  peace  and  love, 
Perverter  of  the  nation  now  they  call, 
Fomenter  of  sedition,  spreading  wide 
From  Galilee,  the  cradle  of  his  birth, 
Throughout  all  Jewry  to  the  capital ; 
Where  now  assuming  to  himself  the  name, 
Prerogative,  and  state  of  King  and  Christ,   720 
He  stirreth  up  the  people  to  revolt, 
Forbidding  them  to  pay  their  rightful  dues 
Of  tribute  to  Rome's  emperor,  himself 
Exalting  above  Csesar.     This,  and  more 
In  the  like  strain  of  virulence,  with  lips 
In  aspic  venom  steep'd,  they  now  depose  ; 
Nor  had  they  brought  their  malice  to  a  pause. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  171 

When  Pilate,  hoping  he  had  now  found  plea 
To  shift  the  dreaded  sentence  from  himself, 
Thus    interposing,    check'd    their     clam'rous 
spleen  :  730 

"  Break  off,  and  let  your  tongues  take  rest  a- 
while  : 
It  is  not  at  this  bar  you  must  implead 
This  man,  a  Galilean  as  it  seems  : 
Whom,  being  such,  it  is  not  mine  to  hear, 
!3ut  Herod's  :  Let  his  special  tetrarch  judge 
■Twixt  him  and  you  :  Thither  remit  your  suit." 

This  said,  he  rose,  preventing  all  reply, 
Whilst  they,  though  by  procrastination  gall'd, 
Yet  of  their  tetrarch  confident,  submit : 
But  nor  with  Herod  could  their  malice  speed 
To  its  main  purpose  :  Little  care  had  he 
For  all  their  priestly  clamour  ;  in  his   thoughts 
Religion  had  no  interest.. .truth  no  weight: 
For  prophets  and  for  prophecies  no  ear 
Had  he,  alike  regardless  how  Christ  preach'd, 
Or  they  complain'd  ;  yet  much  he  wish'd  to  see 
Some  splendid  miracle  of  him  performed — 
Something  to  strike  his  senses  with  surprise 
And  satisfy  a  wanton  curiosity, 
Made  eager  by  the  fame  of  those  great  works, 
Whereof  lie  much  had  heard,  and  nothing  seen, 
But  when  our  Lord  to  all  his  questions  mute 
Nor  word  nor  sign  vouchsafe,  to  wrath  impeH'u\ 


173  CALVARY ;  OR,  [book  v. 

What  by  enticements  he  had  fail'd  to  gain 
By   taunts  he    hop'd  to  extort  ;  and   now   his 

spleen 
To  impious  scorn  and  mockery  gave  the  reign  : 
Forthwith  his  pris'nerin  a  gorgeous  robe 
AppareM'd  as  a  king,  to  all  his  court 
H  id  up  for  sport  and  laughter,  he  expos'd. 
Loud  was  the  roar  of  blasphemy  the  whilst,  760 
And  wild  the  revels  of  the  scoffing  throng 
As  the  lewd  orgies  of  the  frantic  god, 
Or  clamour  of  that  sacrilegious  rout, 
When  their  mad  rage  theThracian  minstrel  tore, 
Whose  wonder-working  harp  could  charm  the  ear 
Of  hell,  and  call  dead  nature  into  life. 
The  priests  look'd  on  and  grinn'd  malicious  joy  ; 
Yet  would  not  Herod  execution  doom  ; 
Or  willing  to  appease  the  jealousy 
Of  Pilate,  or  content  to  mark  his  scorn      770 
Of  Jesus  by  this  arrogant  display 
Of  mercy,  as  not  dreading  whom  he  spar'd. 

Now  once  again  at  Pilate's  bar  he  stands, 
Not  as  before  like  malefactor  ty'd 
And  round  begirt  with  cords,  but  overlaid 
With  a  rich  load  of  sumptuous  mockery  ; 
A  lamb  compell'd  to  carry  the  proud  spoils 
And  guilty  trappings  of  the  tyrannous  wolf. 
Again  the  judge  with  slow  unwilling  step 
To  his  tribunal  mounts,  and  thus  he  speaks  : 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         173 

"You  still  persist  to  bring  this  man  to  me 
As  a  pcrverter  of  your  nation's  faith 
And  loyalty :  Your  witnesses  I've  heard, 
Ponder'd  their  depositions,  and  throughout 
Examin'd  ev'ry  tittle  of  your  charge  : 
Him  too  I've  question'd  in  the  ears  of  all 
Here  present,  and  no  shadow  of  offence 
Can  I  discern  to  warrant  your  appeal 
For  execution,  and  pass  judgment  on  him  : 
IVo,  nor  yet  Herod,  for  to  him  I  sent  790 

You  and  your  Pris'ner,  and  behold  him  freed ; 
Nothing  is  done  unto  him  worthy  death : 
I  will  chastise  him  therefore  and  release  ; 
Yet  this  chastisement,  rather  to  allay 
Your  anger,  than  so  merited  of  him, 
I  shall  inflict.     Remember  this  your  feast 
Hath  the  long  plea  of  custom  to  be  mark'd 
With  pardon  and  forbearance  :  To  reprieve 
One  culprit  from  his  sentence  I  am  bound 
No  less  by  inclination  than  by  rule  800 

And  usage  immemorial :  Make  your  choice  ! 
But  let  it  fall  on  innocence,  not  guilt." 

Instant  all  voices  echo'd  forth  a  cry — 
"Hence  with  this  man  !  away  with  him  to  death  ! 
Give  us  the  murd'rer....set  Barabbas  free  : 
Let  Jesus  perish !" — "  Wherefore  ;  for  what 

crime  ?" 
Pilate  exclaim'd  :  "What  evil  hath  he  done  ? 


174*  CALVARY;    OR,         [book  v. 

Ko  cause  of  death  in  Jesus  can  I  find, 

Be  witness  for  me,  justice,  none  in  him  ; 

But  for  that  wretch,  on  whom  ye  would  bestow 

Pardon  misplac'd,  so  various  are  his  crimes, 

So  black  their  quality,  ye  cannot  name 

A  death  more  terrible  than  he  deserves. 

Take  of  the  guiltless  blood  what  stripes  can  draw 

To  satisfy  your  longing,  but  forbear 

To  take  the  life,  if  not  for  pity's  sake, 

In  honor  of  yourselves,  that  ye  may  say, 

There  was  one  prophet,  whom  ye  did  not  kill." 

Loud  as  the  winds  that  lash  the  raging  seas, 
And  ail  as  deaf,  redoubling  now  the  roar,      820 
Th'  infuriate  Jews  rend  their  blaspheming  throats 
Howling  for  blood  \  'till  deafen'd  with  the  din 
Of  Crucify  him  !  crucify  him  /  (dreadful  cry,) 
Pilate,  who  'twixt  their  tumult  and  the  death 
Of  that  just  person  saw  no  middle  course, 
By  which  t'  escape,  one  solemn  act  prepar'd, 
By  expiatory  washing  of  his  hands 
In  presence  of  the  multitude,  to  purge 
His  soul,  and  therefore  God  alone  is  judge, 
From  the  pure  blood  of  that  devoted  Lamb.  830 

"Behold!"  he  cries,  "I  pour  this  water  forth. 
And  therein  make  ablution  of  my  soul 
From  all  participation  in  your  crime, 
Bv  washing  of  my  hands  from  every  stain 
Of  this  inhuman  sacrifice,  each  spot 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         175 

And  sprinkling  of  this  guiltless  Victim's  Wood. 
Rest  on  your  heads  the  murder  !  I  am  clean." 

"This  said,  he  turn'd  and  fix'd  a  pitying  look 
Upon  the  Lord  ;  then  sigh'd  and  gave  the  word  ; 
Eager  as  hounds,  when  slipp'd  upon  their  prey, 
In  rush  the  throng,  and  soon  the  hissing  scourge 
Whirl'd  with  impetuous  swing  aloud  resounds 
Gashing  that  sacred  flesh,  whose  bleeding-stripes 
Heal'd  our  sin-wounded  souls  :  upon  his  brow 
A  thorny  crown  they  fix,  whose  tort'ring  spikes, 
Thrust  rudely  in  by  sacrilegious  hands, 
Furrow  his  temples,  and  with  crimson  streams 
Cover  his  face  divine  :  Him  thus  abus'd, 
Mangled  with  stripes  and  all  o'erbath'd  in  blood, 
In  purple  robe  they  scornfully  array  850 

And  drag  to  public  view, — "Behold  the  man  !» 
Pilate  proclaim'd,  with  horror  in  his  voice 
And  out-stretch'd  arm,  that  pointed  to  a  sight 
Which  had  to  pity  mov'd  their  steely  hearts, 
Had  they  not  been  of  metal  forg'd  by  fiends 
And  temper'd  in  the  sternest  fires  of  hell. 
Dry-eyed,  as  rock  of  adamant  unmov'd, 
Obdurate  to  his  sorrows  they  look'd  on, 
Nor  from  their  crucifying  clamour  eeas'd. 
Till  Pilate,  now  all  hope  for  Jesus  lost,  8 GO 

Yielding  to  their  tumultuous  fury,  cry'd  : 

"  Take  him,  and  do  your  bloody  work  your- 
selves : 


176  CALVARY;  OR,         [book  y. 

Impose  it  not  on  me  ;  I  find  no  cause 
Of  death,  no  fault  in  Jesus.     Take  ye  him 
And  crucify  him  !  Of  his  guiltless  hlood, 
Lo !  I  am  innocent ;  see  ye  to  that !" 

"  On  us  and  on  our  children  be  his  blood  !" 
Then  answer'dallthe  Jews.  Tremendous  words, 
Tremendously  fulfill'd  !  And  now  afresh 
They  clamour  for  the   cross  ;    when   thus  the 

judge-— 
"  Would  you  that  I  should  crucify  your  King  ?>» 
"  We  have  no  king  but  Caesar,"  they  rejoin, 
"  Nor  art  thou  Caesar's  friend  to  spare  this  man." 
?Twas  past  ;  to  that  dread  name   the  Roman 

bow'd 
Obedient,  and  from  his  sad  heart  sigh'd  forth 
Th'  extorted  doom — death  to  the  Lord  of  Life  ! 


END   OF  THE   FIFTH  I5O0K. 


OR, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST. 


BOOK  VI 


z 


ARGUMENT    OF    THE    SIXTH    BOOK. 


Judas  Iscariot,  seized  with  remorse,  returns  the  thirty  pieces  of  silver  to 
the  priests,  and  departs.  Mammon  re-assumes  the  habit  of  a  Levite, 
and  meeting  Judas,  after  he  had  returned  the  -money  to  the  priests,  in- 
stigates him  to  destroy  himself.  That  evil  spirit  now  takes  wing  and 
repairs  to  the  wilderness. ..convenes  the  daemons  from  all  parts  of  Pales- 
tine, and,  informing  them  of  Satan's  expulsion  from  earth,  warns  them 
by  his  command  to  betake  themselves  to  flight,  before  the  hour  of 
Christ's  crucifixion  This  is  no  sooner  announced,  than  the  whole  in- 
fernal host  breaks  up  in  disorder,  and  disperses  to  various  parts  of  the 
world  therein  described.  The  subject  of  the  crucifixion  is  now  brought 
forward  :  The  procession  sets  out  for  Mount  Calvary  :  Christ,  bearing 
his  cross,  is  bisvailed  by  the  spectators  as  he  passes  ;  He  is  seen  by  Ga- 
briel and  the  angels  with  him  from  the  mount,  on  which  they  were  sta- 
tioned :  He  addresses  himself  to  the  daughters  of  Jerusalem  :  The  ex- 
ecutioners pail  his  hands  and  feet  to  the  cross  ;  the  priests  revile  him, 
and  call  upon  him  to  comedown  ;  one  of  the  malefactors  crucified  with 
him,  casts  the  same  in  his  teeth  ;  he  is  reproved  by  the  other,  whose 
penitence  is  rewarded  by  the  promise  of  immediate  salvation  and  glorj  . 
Christ  from  the  cross  recommends  his  mother  to  John,  the  beloved  dii- 
ciple.  Christ  dies.  The  sun  is  darkened. ..the  earth  quakes. ..the  rocks 
are  rent,  and  the  bodies  of  the  saints  and  prophets  are  raised  from  the 
dead  and  appear  upon  earth.  The  priests  and  elders,  alarmed  by  these 
prodigies,  resort  to  Pilate  and  demand  a  guard  cf  Romans  to  defend  tlu: 
sepulchre,  lest  the  disciples  should  take  away  the  body  of  Christ,  and 
pretend  that  he  was  risen  :  Pilate  replies,  that  they  have  a  watch  ;  bids 
them  see  to  it  themselves,  and  dismisses  them. 


BOOK  Vic 


THE     CRUCIFIXION. 

""I.JN  us  and  on  our  children  be  his  blood!" — • 
Such  was  jour  imprecation,  O  ye  Jews, 
When  in  your  sight  the  world's  Redeemer  stood 
Gasli'd  o'er  with  wounds,  mid   emptying*  e\7vy 

vein 
For  man's  redemption  ;  and  behold  !  it  flows.., 
It  whelms  upon  you  in  a  flood-gate  tide; 
Stccp'd  to  the  lips  ye  are  in  all  the  blood 
Of  all  the  righteous  shed  upon  the  earth, 
From  blood  of  righteous  Abel  to  the  blood 
Of  Zecliariah,  whom  your  fathers  ston'd  10 

Betwixt  the  altar  and  the  house  of  God. 
Ye  have  enonjHh  :  the  mark  is  on  your  race : 
Ye  have  drawn  down  the  judgment  ye  provok'd; 
It  rests  upon  you  :  Yet  for  you  no  rest, 
No  station,  no  abiding-place  is  found ; 
Strangers  and  weary  wand'rers  upon  earth, 
if  in  the  dust  of  your  Jerusalem 
With  foot  proscrib'd  ye  dare  to  tread,  ye  die  j 
A  savage  race  usurps  your  sacred  mount, 


180  CALVARY1;  OR,         [book  vi. 

And  Jordan  echoes  an  unhallow'd  name ;       SO 
Should  ye  hut  stop  to  shed  a  filial  tear 
Upon  the  soil  where  your  forefathers  sleep, 
Woe  to  the  circumcis'd  that  so  is  found  ! 
Oh  !  si  w  of  heart,  when  will  ye  understand, 
That  thus  afflicted^  scatter'd  and  dispers'd 
Through  every  clime  and  kingdom  of  the  world; 
Ye  are  sent  forth  to  publish,  as  ye  pass, 
How  truly  Christ  predicted  of  your  fate  ; 
And  though  your  lips  deny, your  sufferings  prove 
That  prophet  Jesus,  whom  your  fathers  slew,  30 
Was  Saviour,  Christ,  Messiasj  Son  of  God. 

Amidst  the  throng  that  fill  the  judgment  hall 
Stood  Judas  ;  he  upon  the  watch  tJ  avoid 
The  Master's  eye,  with  caution  took  his  post ; 
Yet  was  his  ear  to  all  that  Jesus  spake  [strong 
Still  present,    and,  though  few  the  words,  yet 
And  potent  of  those  few  th'  impressive  truth* 
There  was  a  magic  sweetness  in  his  voice, 
A  note  that  seem'd  to  shiver  every  nerve 
Entwin'd  about  his  heart,  though  now  corrupt} 
Debas'd,  and  hardened.     Ill  could  he  abide, 
Murderer  although  he  were,  the  dying  tones 
Of  Him,  whom  he  had  murder'd  :    'Twas    the 

voice 
As  of  a  spirit  in  the  air  by  night 
Heard  in  the  meditation  of  some  crime, 
Or  sleep-created  in  the  troubled  ear 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         1 8  i 

Of  conscience,  crying  out,  Beware  !  It  smote 
Upon  the  soul,  for  it  was  Christ  who  spake  ; 
Well  then  might  Judas   tremble  :     'Twas   the 

traitor 
JList'ning  the  plea  of  innocence  betrayed  ;       50 
Well  might  that  plea  awaken  his  remorse. 
When  the  perverting  witnesses  depos'd 
To  crimes  of  which  lie  knew  his  Master  free^ 
The  refutation  quiver-d  on  his  lips, 
And  hard  he  struggled  to  bring  forth  the  words. 
Yet    could   not,   tongue-ty'd  with  despair .  and 

shame. 
Bat  if  his  hearing  so  alarm-d  his  heart, 
What  were  his  feelings,  when  at  times  his  eye 
Glanc'd  on  the  sacred  person  of  his  Lord, 
Bound  like  a  felon,  his  defenceless  hands         60 
In  manacles,  confin'd  behind  his  back, 
His  cheeks  with  blows  sufflated,  and  his  face 
(Oh,  piteous  !)  with  blaspheming  slaver  stain'd  : 
Then-stripp'd,  transform'd,  in  purple  stole  ar- 
ray'd, 
Saluted  with  the  insolent  "All-hail, 
King  of  the  Jews  !" — a  spectacle  of  sport 
And  merriment  to  all  the  scoffing  crowd  ? 
Could  heart  of  man  bear  this,  who  had  beheld 
His  miracles. ..his  mercies  ;  prov'd  his  love... 
iTis  patience. ..his  forbearance  ;  shar'd  his  care?. 
His  labours  and  his  watching?  :  heard  his  voice, 


18*  CALVARY;    OB,         [book  vi. 

When  tempest-tost,  rebuke  the  elements, 
Though  silent  now  amidst  the  roar  of  tongues  ? 
'Twas  all  that  priestly  malice  could  inflict, 
But  more  than  Mammon's  convert  could  support. 
Yet  worse  hud  these  tormentors  in  reserve 
To  agonize  his  soul.. .another  scene 
To  shift  new  horrors  on  that  bloody  stage  : 
Tiie  torturing  scourge  now  sounded  in  his  cars. 
The  mangled  flesh  flew  off  in  tatter'd  stripes.... 
The  crimson  stream  ran  down. ..the   pavement 

drank 
Libation  of  his  immolated  blood  : 
The  hall  rebellow'd  with  the  echoing  cry 
Of  monsters  who  applauded  every  stroke  ; 
Wolves,  vultures  ;  Oh,  for  words  to  speak  them 

worse  ! 
Men  turti'd  to  daemons.     Traitor  tho'  he  were} 
Son  of  perdition,  this  was  all  too  much. 

"Take  hence,1'   he   cry-d,   "take  back    your 

bribe  accurst*  [coin ; 

Damxi'd  price  of  damning  deed  !  Tell  o'er  your 
Count  out  your  thirty  pieces  ;  for  each  piece    90 
Is  thirty  thousand  daggers  to  ray  heart : 
Burthen'd  too  much  already  with  my  sins, 
I  should  but  into  worse  damnation  sink, 
Under  this  mercenary  load  opprest. 
1  have  betray'd  the  innocent ;  too  late 
For  pardon,  I  am  past  redemption  lost : 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHBIST.  1S3 

Ye  may  redeem  the  time,  if  ye  reeal 

Your  fatal  condemnation,  and  atone 

To  that  just  Person  ye  have  doom'dto  deatli ; 

If  not,  ye  crucify  the  Lord  of  Life."  100 

This  said,  he  threw  the  thirty  pieces  down 
jtn  !  strait  departed  ;  they  to  his  retort 
Short  answer  made,  remorseless  and  malign. 
And  now  disburtheird  of  his  filthy  bribe, 
It  seem'd  as  though  his  conscience  would  permit 
A  momentary  pause,  for  one  short  gleam 
Of  hope  to  visit  his  benighted  soul  : 
"Twas  something  like  atonement;  'twas  one  step 
Turn'd  backward  from  the  precipice  of  sin, 
And  pointed  tow'rds  repentance  ;   !tw;;s  the  last 
Faint  effort  that  reluctant  nature  made 
Tp  struggle  'gainst  self  murder  :  but  how  vain  ! 
For  Mammon,  once  the  tyrant  of  man's  heart, 
111  brooks  expulsion  thence  ;  from  youth  to  age, 
From  age  to  life*s  extremest  hour  he  holds 
Absolute  empire  ;  nor  does  hell  contain 
Spirit  so  jealous  of  usurp'd  command. 
He  in  the  bosom  of  those  impious  priests 
Held  high  pre-eminence,  and  them  amidst, 
Himself  unseen,  had  noted  all  that  pass/d  ;  120 
And  much  indignant  to  be  now  abjur'd 
Of  that  compunctious  traitor,  swift  as  thought. 
(Such  was  iiis  power  of  motion.)  took  the  form 
And  habit  of  that  Levite,  firs t  assnm'd. 


18*  CALVARY ;  OR,  [book  vi. 

And  him  close  following  to  the  outward  hall, 
There  with  these  taunting  words  assail'd  his  ear: 
"  A  losing  game,  friend  Judas,  thou  hastplay'd, 
To  set  thy  soul  upon  a  desperate  cast, 
And  after  pay  the  stake  on  either  side. 
What  folly  is  it  to  be  knave  by  halves  !  130 

Who  would  strike  virtue  in  the  face,  and  then 
Ask  pardon  for  the  blow — -fall  oft' from  truth, 
Enlist  with  falsehood  and  take  pay  for  treason, 
Then  by  a  paltry  plea  of  restitution, 
Think  to  compound  one  tresspass  by  another... 
Desertion  by  desertion?  Get  thee  hence,  [dregs 
Thou   shame  to  manhood !  wring  out  the    sad 
Of  thy  detested  life  in  hopeless  tears, 
For  thou  hast  thrown  away  both  worlds  at  once  ; 
All  gain  in  this. ..all  glory  in  the  next."  140 

"  And  what  art  thou,"  cried  Judas,  "  so  to  gal) 
A  wounded  spirit,  wounded  by  thy  arts, 
Tempter  accurst  ?  Human  thou  canst  not  be, 
Else  thou  would'st  find  some  pity  in  thy  heart 
For  wretch  like  me.     Who  but  thyself  seduc'd 
My  loyalty  from  Christ  ?  Who  sapp'd  my  faith  < 
Who  fix'd  this  adder  to  my  breast,  but  thou  ? 
Thou,  daemon  as  thou  art,  hast  hurl'd  me  down 
From  my  high  hope  to  fathomless  abyss 
Of  misery  and  despair.. .from  hcav'n  to  hell." 

';  Rail  not  on  me,"  quoth  Mammon,"  but  thyself 
And  thine  own  folly  ;  there  the  charge  were  just. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  185 

Didst  thou  not  sell  thy  Master  for  a  bribe  ? 
My  part  was  faithfully  perform'd  ;  the  price 
Conditioned  for  was  paid.     What  would'st  thou, 

more  ? 
1  needed  treason,  and  I  sought  out  thee 
As  fittest  for  my  purpose.     Envious,  proud, 
Lustful  of  pelf,  a  villain  ready  made 
And  ripe  for  mischief,  such  I  marked  thee  down  \ 
Nay,  and  yet  better  ;  for  I  thought  thee  w  hole 
And  perfect  villain  with  no  rotten  part 
Of  penitence  to  mar  thee  ;  but,  behold, 
Thou  hast  deceived  me  vilely,  and  hast  got 
A  blinking  vice  about  thee,  a  perverse 
And  retrograde  depravity  of  soul, 
That  makes  thee  hateful  to  my  sight.  Begone  \ 
That  thou  art  wicked  put  not  me  to  blame  ; 
JIadst  thou  been  constant  I  had  made  thee  rich, 
And   riches  would  have  sav'd  thee   from  con- 
tempt ;  [vaunt ! 
Now  thou  art  poor  and  loathsome.     Hence  ;  a- 
One  remedy  I'll  give  thee  for  despair... 
This  cord,  a  remnant  of  thy  Master's  bonds— T 
A  legacy  most  opportunely  left 
To  heal  thy  cares  and  recompense  thy  love  : 
Take,  and  apply  it  to  its  proper  use  ; 
Jt  t>'d  his  limbs  :  Let  it  encase  thy  throat." 
H'j  said,  and,  stooping,   from  the   pavement 
took 

A  3 


186  CALVARY;  OB.  [book  yi. 

The  cord  there  left,  andhinlii   ;  it  with  scori* 
To  the  desponding  traitor,  disappear'd. 
Sordid  that  wretch  tli^  Fatal  gift  reject,       180 
But  eager  seiz'd  the  instrument  •     death, 
And  soofi  within  a  darksome  vault  beneath 
The  judgment-hall,  fit  solitude  lie  found, 
And  beam  appropriate  to  his  desperate  use  ; 
Whereto  tpperidant  he  breath'd  out  his  soul, 
Not  daring  to  put  up  o       prayer  for  peace  » 
At  his  dark  journey's  end  ;  but  trembling,  wild, 
Confus'd,  of  reason  as  of  liopfc  bereft, 
With'  heaving  breast  and  ghastly  staring  eyes, 
There  betwixt  heav'n   and    earth,    of   both    e- 

nouncd,  )0 

Hung,  terrible  to  sight,  a  bloated  corpse,   ["sumo 
Oh!  how  shall  rash  and  ignorant  man  pre- 
To  judge  for  God,  and  on  his  narrow  scale 
Think  to  mete  out,  by  limits  and  degrees, 
Immeasurable  mercy?  Who  can  tell 
Hnv  high  the  sorrows  of  man's  suffering  heart 
Ascend  tow'rds  heaven.. .how    swift    contrition 

Hies... 
What  words  find  passage  to  the  throne  of  grace, 
What  in  mid-way  are  lost,  dispers'd  in  air, 
And  scatter'd  to  the  winds  !     Oh  !  that  my  harp 
Could  sound  that  happy  note,    which    stirs  the 

string 
Responsive,  that  kind  Nature  hath  entwin'd 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         187 

About  the  human  heart,  and  by  whose  clue 
Bop  ntance,  heav'nly  monifress,  reclaims 
The  youthful  wand*i   rfrom  his  dang'ffous  maze 
To  tre  A  her  peace;       >aths,  and  seek  his  God  : 
So  could  my  fervent,  i       effectual  verse 
Avail,  posterity  should  then  engrave 
That  verse  upon  my  tomb,  to  tell  the  world 
I   lid.  not  live  in-vain.     But  heedless  man,   210 
D    if  to  the  music  of  the  moral  song, 
By  Mammon  or  by  Belial  led  from  sin 
To  sin,  runs  onward  i  i  his  mad  career ; 
Nor  once  takes  warning  of  his  better  guide, 
Till,  at  the  barrier  of  life's  little  span 
Arriv'd,  he  stops  :  Death  opens  to  his  view 
A  hideous  gulph  ;  in  vain  he  looks  around 
For  the  lost  seraph,  Hope  ;  beside  him  stands 
The  tyrant  fiend  and  urges  to  the  brink  ; 
Behind  him  black  despair  with  threatening  frown 
And  gorgon  shield,  whose  interposed  orb 
Bars  all  retreat,  and  with  its  shade  involves 
Life's  brighter  prospects  in  one  hideous  night. 
So  Judas  fell ;  so  like  him  every  wretch, 
By  the  same  filthy  Mammon  lur'd,  shall  fall. 

Meanwhile  the  vengeful  daemon  unappcas'd, 
Pond'rinff  the  warning  of  his  Stveian  lord 
Late    driv*n  from  earth,    and  mindful   that  the 

charge 
And  conduct  of  hell's  host  on  him  devolved 


188  CALVARY;    OR,         [book  ti. 

Nowclaim'd  his  wariest  thoughts,  upon  the  wing 
Sets  forth  full  sail  to  summon  his  compeers, 
As  many  as  in  that  quarter  might  be  found, 
And  them  apprize  of  their  foul  loss  incurr'd 
By  their  great  captain's  fall,  and  what  dispatch 
Behoves  them  now  put  forth  timely  to  'scape 
Impending  danger  of  their  chief  foreseen, 
If  Christ's  death-hour  should  unawares  surprize 
Them  idlv  station'di  or  with  curious  gaze 
Hovering  about  his  cross.     So  forth  he  goes  : 
But  first  to  spy  the  land  he  wheels  his  flight 
Athwart  Mount  Calvary,  and  there  on  guard 
A  file  of  lieav'nly  warriors  he  descries 
Covering  the  sacred  hill,  and  at  their  head 
Gabriel,  in  golden  panoply  array'd, 
Arm'd  at  all  points,  commander  of  the  band. 
The  fate  of  Satan  and  the  recent  sight 
Of  Chemos'  ghastly  wound,  with  guilty  fears 
Haunting  his  coward  fancy,  warn'd  him  fly 
Beyond  the  range   of  that   strong  spear,    from 

which 
Spirit  more  warlike  than  himself  had  fled.     250 
As  when  a  pirate  galley  on  the  scout, 
Roving  the  seas  of  some  strong-guarded  coast 
In  bay  or  inlet  moor'd  under  the  lee 
Of  headland  promontory  at  anchor  spies 
A  warlike  fleet,   whose  tow'ring  masts  and  sail* 
Unbent  for  sea,  bespeak  their  ready  trim-, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  189 

Down  goes  the  helm  at  once,  the  felon  crew 
Bestir  all  hands  and  veer  the  vessel  round 
To  seaward,  then  ply  oars  and  sails  for  life  : 
So  at  the  sight  of  that  angelic  band,  260 

The  Stygian  scout  wheel-d  round  and  sped  his 

flight 
Sheer  to  the  wilderness  on  swiftest  wing, 
There  on  the  watch  Azazel  haply  found. 
He  hade  sound  forth  the  loud  Satanic  trump. 
Heard  through  all  Palestine,  at  call  whereof 
Sp'rits,  to  whatever  element  aflix'd, 
In  troops  swift-posting  on  the  charmed  winds, 
Came  from  all  parts  ;  from  Sidon  and  from  Tyre 
New  ris'n  amidst  the  waves  ;  from  Gazars  coast^ 
Meridian  limit,  to  the  snow-capt  mounts        270 
Hermon  and  Libanus,  and  them  beyond 
From  Epidaphne  on  Orontes'  stream, 
Fam'd  for  its  grove  prophetic  ;  from  the  banks 
Of  Pharphar  and  Abana,  Rimmon's  haunts  ; 
From  Byblus,  where  Astarte's  wanton  train 
Howl  for  the  death  of  Thammuz,  yearly  lost 
And  found  as  oft  by  the  love-frantic  dames. 
These  on  the  desart  heath  alighting  stand 
Obedient  to  the  signal  ;  all  around 
Expectant  of  their  arch-angelic  chief  280 

They  cast  an  anxious  look,  but  look  in  vain  : 
Him  in  far  other  region  they  shall  find 
h\  chains  fast  bound  amidst  eternal  fires^ 


190  CALVARY;  OR,         [book  vi. 

His  dismal  dwelling,  for  them  also  reserv'd 
In  God's  appointed  time.     To  whom  the  fiend  : 
"  I  muse  not,  warriors,  that  ye  stand  amaz'd 
To  see  yourselves  in  absence  of  our  chief 
Here  summon'd  by  this  arch-angelic  trump, 
"Which  other  breath  than  his  before  ne'er  fiil'd  ; 
But  public  danger  urges  this  bold  step,        290 
In  me  presumptuous,  had  I  not  to  plead 
Your  safety  for  my  warrant,  and  withal 
His  last  sail  mandate  earnestly  bequeath'd 
At  parting,  when,  sole  witness,  I  beheld 
His  utter  loss,  discomfiture  and  flight. 
Ah.  friends  !  how  sympathetic  with  my  soul 
Is  that  deep  general  groan,  which  now  I  hear  ! 
Fall  cause,  immortal  mourners,  have  we  all 
To  groan  and  beat  our  breasts  ;  nor  I  the  least, 
Whose  melancholy  task  it  is  to  pour  300 

These  heavy  tidings  in  your  grieved  ears. 
But  let  us  yet  remember  what  we  are, 
And  be  not  therefore  heartless,  though  bereft 
Of  him,  who  was  the  head  and  brain  of  all. 
Many  and  mighty  are  the  chiefs  yet  left, 
Though  he,  prime  chief,  no  longer  shall  review 
This  widow -d  host.     Of  Satan  the  return 
Is  desp'ratc,  such  a  whirlwind  caught  him  up, 
So  strong  a  southern  blast  at  Christ's  command 
Blew  him  beyond  the  stretch  of  angel  ken     3 10 
Right  onward  to  the  realm  of  ancient  Night 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         191 

Impetuous  through  the  empyrean  void 
Sheer  on  the  level  wing.     Of  him  the  fate 
Is  worse  than  doubtful ;  of  his  Victor's  power 
And  Godhead  irresistible  what  proof 
Greater  than  this  sad  downfall  can  we  need, 
Or  after  such  example  what  provoke  ? 
Behoves  us  now  prepare  for  instant  flight  ; 
This  our  late  chief,  prophetic  in  his  fall, 
With  his  last  words  enjoin'dme  to  propound  320 
To  these  our  legions  scattered  o?er  the  coasts 
OP  Palestine,  whom  else  the  coming  hour 
Of  Christ's  mysterious  passion  shall  involve 
In  like  disgrace  and  ruin  with  your  prince, 
Who  to  his  latest  moment  upon  earth 
Waa  studious  of  your  safety.     I  have  now, 
In  words  unworthy  of  my  charge,  yet  such 
As  heart  o'erwhelmn'd  with  sorrow  can  supply, 
Surrendered  to  your  ears  my  painful  trust. 
I5ut  whither  to  repair,  whom  to  elect  330 

As  captain  and  conductor  of  this  host,  [inand 
Now  heedless,  conscious  that  such  high  com- 
With  none  but  with  the   worthiest  should  be 

lodg'd, 
I,  as  becomes  me,  to  Your  wiser  thoughts 
Submit,  and  with  the  general  choice  shall  close.  " 
No  more  :  for  now,  with  sudden  panic  seiz'ih 
The  Stygian  host,  no  voice  imperial  heard 
Nor  rule  nor  order  kept,  uprose  at  once, 


192  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  vj. 

Disbanded,  lawless  ;  dreadful  was  the  yell 
Of  that  infernal  rout — a  swarm  as  thick       340 
As  locusts,  making*  horrid  night  beneath 
Their  wings,  that  with  like  clangor  beat  the  air. 
As  of  a  flock  of  cormorants  disturbed 
From  some  lone  island  on  the  rocky  coast 
Of  Chili,  where  they  haunt ;  so  they  with  cry- 
More  hideous  mount,  there  hover  for  a  while, 
Then  to  all  points  disperse,  as  chance  falls  out, 
Or  short  consult  prescribes.    Some  to  the  south. 
With  Isis  and  Osiris  at  their  head, 
To  Memphis,  Thin  and  Tamis  take  their  flight  3 
There  with  the  bestial  deities  to  herd, 
Birds,  serpents,  reptiles,  monsters  of  the  Nileff 
Gods  that  would  half  unfurnish  Noah's  ark  : 
Some  with  Meloartus,  demi-god  of  Tyre, 
Light  short,  and  in  its  temple  refuge  take, 
Where,  arm'd  with  massy  club  and  lion  hide, 
His  huge  athletic  idol  frowning  stands  : 
Others  with  Rimmon  eastward  wing  their  way 
To  fam'd  Damascus  ;  there  in  bow'ring  shades 
By  rilling  fountains  on  the  flow'ry  turf  366 

To  doze  away  the  soft  oblivious  hours, 
A  siumb'ring  synod  :  Some  the  golden  spires 
Of  Nineveh  attract  and  Nisroc's  fane, 
Stain'd  with  Sennacherib's  imperial  hloods 
Thereby  the  parricidal  princes  shed. 
To  Byblus  and  Belitns  others  speed. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHttTST.         198 

Light  feathery  wantons,  by  Astarte  led, 
With  loose-love  ditties  and  soft  smiles  lur'd  on 
To  page  her  pride  and  dcek  her  am'rous  sports  ! 
But  of  the  rest  far  greater  part  repair  370 

To  high  Olympus,  where  presides  the  power 
Of  thund'ring  Baal ;  he  that  station  keeps 
Pre-eminent,  o'er  all  the  idol  gods, 
And  in  his  festive  hall  rich  nectar  quaffs 
With  purple  lips,  and  midnight  revels  holds. 
Luxurious,  sensual,  lewd,  in  vice  immers'd : 
Yet  some  there  were,  and  of  no  vulgar  note, 
Who,  (grief  to  tell !)  to  the  biforked  mount 
Flew  off,  and  there  with  the  Parnassian  maids 
Held  shameful  dalliance  ;  from  whose  lewd  em- 
brace 380 
Descended  a  whole  family  of  bards 
Corruptive,  illegitimate,  and  base  ; 
A  spurious  breed  of  wickedness  and  wit ; 
A  Muse's  genius  with  a  daemon's  heart : 
Mammon,  meanwhile,  a  solitary  sprite, 
Selfish,  morose,  and  e'en  by  dev'ls  abhorr'd, 
Hied  him  alone,  on  sordid  thoughts  intent, 
To  rummage  in  Pactolus'  sands  for  gold  ; 
None  join'd,  nor  sought  he  partner  in  his  flight, 
His  sole  ambition  to  engross  and  hoard.       390 

Now  came  the  awful  consummation  on, 
The  hour  of  promise,  dimly  shadow'd  out 
Bj*  types  and  prophecies,  when  from  the  worn!) 

B2 


194  CALVARY;    OR,  [book  vi. 

Of  mystery,  long  travailing*  in  pains  [forth 

And  groanings,  now  in  ripe  time  should  spring 
Her  full  form'd  revelation,  to  dispel 
The  Obscure  of  ancient  days,  and  usher  in 
Twin  birth  of  Immortality  and  Life. 
JNTow  God,  by  th'  off 'ring  of  his  only  Son, 
The  type  of  Abraham's  sacrifice  fulfilled,      400 
Who,  though  unconscious  of  that  type,  by  faith 
Righteous,  was  of  the  promises  made  heir. 
And  now,  as  Moses  in  the  wilderness 
Lifted  the  serpent,  so  the  son  of  Man 
Exalted  on  the  cross  shall  heal  the  world 
Of  sin,  and  expiate  the  wide-wasting  plague. 
Now  the  peace-offering  of  the  spotless  Lamb, 
By  one  conclusive  Passover,  shall  rend 
The  law's  symbolic  veil,  and  all  absolve, 
Whose  consciences  are  sprinkled  with  his  blood, 
From  punishment  entail'd  upon  the  world 
By  man's  first  disobedience.     Forth  he  comes 
From  condemnation :  Ye,  too,  from  your  tombs 
Come  forth,  ye  prophets  ! — Son  of  Amoz,  thou 
Prepare  for  resurrection  :  Come  and  see, 
Not  darkly  as  in  a  glass,  but  face  to  face, 
The  object  of  thy  vision — Him,  the  man 
Of  sorrows — Him,  who  like  a  lamb  is  brought 
To  slaughter  :   Mark  the  travail  of  his  soul  : 
Witness  how  he  is  stricken  for  our  sins,         420 
Witness  how  we  are  healed  by  his  stripes, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  105 

And  by  the  note  and  comment  of  his  death 
Construe    thine    own    predictions.     Forth    he 

comes, 
From  condemnation,  under  Roman  guard, 
Bearing*  his  cross  :   Upon  his  bleeding  brow, 
Ensign  alike  of  royalty  and  woe, 
A  thorny  crown  ;  no  friendly  hand  is  found 
To  wipe  away  the  tear,  mingled  with  blood, 
That  hangs  upon  his  cheek  :   The  soldiers  cry, 
t;  Room  for  the  criminal !"  and  rest  their  pikes 
To  keep  the  crowd  aloof;  staggering  beneath 
The  ponderous  burthen  of  his  cross  he  faints. 
And  sinks  to  earth  o'erspent,  till  one  is  found, 
A  sturdy  stranger  ofCvrenian  birth. 
On  whom  to  lay  the  venerable  load. 
Hail,  Simon  !  blessed  above  men  wert  thou, 
If  faith  in  Him  who  sufter'd  on  that  cross 
Glow'd  in  thy  heart  and  furnish- d  thee  with  zeal 
To  render  this  last  service  to  thy  Lord. 

Without  the  city  walls  there  was  a  Mount  440 
Call'd  Calvary  :  The  common  grave  it  was 
Of  malefactors  ;  there  to  plant  his  cross 
It  was  decreed  :  Long  was  the  way  to  death, 
And,  like  the  ascent  to  glorv.  hard  to  climb. 
L'pon  the  summit  stood  the  angel  troop, 
Of  Mammon  seen,  though  to  man's  filmed  eve 
Invisible.     Here  Gabriel,  from  the  height 
Noting  the  sad  procession,  had  espyrd 


495  CALVARY ;  Oft,        [book  n. 

The  suffering  Son  of  God  amidst  the  throng, 
Dragged  slowly  on  by  rude  and  ruffian  hands 
To  shameful  execution  :  Horror-struck, 
Pierc'd  to  the  heart,  th'  indignant  seraph  shook 
Ills  threatening  spear,  and  with  the  other  hand 
Smote  on  his  thigh,  in.  agony  of  soul 
For  man's  ingratitude  ;  glist'ning  with  tears 
His    eyes,    whence    late    celestial    sweetness 

beam'd, 
Kow  shot  a  fiery  glance  oh  them  below, 
Then  raising  them  to  heav'n,  he  thus  exclaim'd  I 

"  Oh  !  that  the  Everlasting  would  permit 
His  angels  to  chastise  these  impious  men,  460 
And  from  their  hands  his  holy  Son  redeem, 
Whom  in  the  heav'n  of  heav'ns  we  have  beheld 
Beloved  of  the  Father,  ever  blest, 
At  the  right  hand  of  powV  in  glory  thron'd  ! 
But  this  for  purposes  beyond  our  reach' 
God,  ever  wise,  forbids  ;  and  who  against 
God's  interdict  shall  stir  ?  Therefore  retire, 
Stand  off  and  wait  the  time  !  If  Christ  com* 
We  are  his  ministers  to  do  his  will,        [mands, 
Be  it  to  lift  this  mountain  from  its  base        470 
And  whelm  it  on  his  murderers  ;  if  not, 
Patient  spectators  We  must  here  abide, 
And  let  the  sacrilegious  work  proceed  ; 
Knowing  that  God  hath  said,  I  will  revenge  : 
Vengeance  belongeth  to  the  Lord  alone-.'* 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         i  9? 

Now  on  the  news  of  their  great  Prophet's  fate 
Each  heart  with  fearfulness  and  trembling  seiz'd, 
Through  all  Jerusalem  the  tumult  ran  5 
Native  or  stranger,  aged  or  infirm, 
None  in  the  Holy  City  now  kept  house  :       480 
Where'er  the  Saviour  pass'd,  his  presence  drew 
Thousands  to  gaze  ;  and  many  an  aching  heart 
Heav'd  silent  the  last  tributary  sigh 
In  memory  of  his  mercies  :  zealous  some 
Rush'd  in  the  grateful  blessing  to  bestow 
For  health,  or  limbs,  or  life  itself  rcstor'd  : 
But  these  the  soldiers  rudely  thrust  aside, 
And  some  with  brutal  violence  they  smote, 
Thick'ning  their  files  to  hem  their  pris'ner  close, 
As  fearful  of  a  rescue.     Loud  the  cry  490 

Of  women,  whose  soft  sex  to  pity  prone, 
Melts  at  those  scenes,  which  flinty-hearted  man 
Dry-ey'd  contemplates  :  Mothers  in  their  arms 
Held  up  their  infants,  and  with  shrill  acclaim 
Begg'd  a  last  blessing  for  those  innocents, 
Whose  sweet  simplicity  so  well  he  lov'd, 
And  ever  as  he  met  them  laid  his  hands 
Upon  their  harmless  heads,  with  gentle  love 
And  gracious  benediction,  breathing  heav'n 
Into  their  hearts.     Oh!  happy  babes,  so  blest ! 

Fenc'd  in  with  shields  and  spears,  and  com- 
pass'd  round 
pith  Roman  guards,  the  persecuting  priests, 


10$  CALVARY;    OR,         [book  vi. 

Elders  and  scribes  follow'd  their  victim's  steps 
Amidst  the  scoffs  and  hissings  of  the  crowd  ; 
And  still  as  Christ  approach'd  the  fatal  spot, 
Loud  and  more  loud  the  sadlamcntings  grew, 
Till  at  the  foot  of  the  funeral  mount 
Arriv'd  he  stopt,  and  turning  to  the  group 
Of  mourners,  these  prophetic  words  address'd  r 
"Daughters  of  Solyma,  weep  not  for  me,  510 
Weep  rather  for  yourselves  and  for  your  babes  ; 
For  lo  !  the  dawn  of  sorrows  is  at  hand  ; 
The  dread  prediction  presses  to  the  birth, 
"When  through  Jerusalem  a  voice  shall  cry, 
Give  thanks,  ye  childless  matrons,  and  confess 
A  barren  bed,  your  worst  misfortune  deem'd, 
Now  your  best  best  blessing  :  Break  forth  into 

Ye,  at  whose  breasts  no  infant  ever  hung, 

For  }*e  have  none  to  mourn.     Now  to  the  clefts 

And  caverns  of  the  mountains  they  shall  say  520 

"  Fall  on  us,  cover  us,  ye  rocky  vaults, 

And  hide  us  from  this  wrath  !  For  if  with  us 

Already  it  begins,  what  shall  the  end 

Of  the  ungodly  and  the  sinner  be  ! 

If  the  green  tree  cannot  abide  the  storm, 

How  shall  the  dry  escape?" — And  now  no  more. 

Upon  the  summit  of  Mount  Calvary 

They  rear  his  cross  ;  conspicuous  there  it  stands 

An  ensign  of  salvation  to  the  world. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  199 

Kneel,  all  ye  Christian  nations  !  bow  your  hearts 
And  worship  your  Redeemer,  in  whose  death 
Ye  live,  and  Irom  whose  issuing  wounds   flows 
life,  [flows 

By  his    blood  purchased  ;  hope's  best  promise 
Of  joys  immortal  for  the  just  reserv'd. 

The  soldiers,  now  by  their  centurion  form'd 
In  hollow  orb  around  the  cross,  begin 
Their  horrid  prelude  to  the  murd'rous  scene  ; 
And  first  his  vesture,  their  accustom'd  spoil 
And  perquisite,  they  part ;  but  for  his  coat 
From  top  to  bottom  woven  without  seam,     540 
That  they  rend  not,  but  on  it  cast  their  lots 
Whose  it  shall  be  entire.     Upon  his  cross 
In  Hebrew,  Greek,  and  Latin,  they  inscribe, 
(So  Pilate  whTd,  though  by  the  priests  oppos'd) 
"Jesus  of  Nazaeeth,  King  of  the  Jews  !" 
This  title  in  three  several  tongues  display'd, 
Read  all  those  crucifyers  of  their  King, 
And  murmur'd  as  they  read  ;  hard  to  the  last, 
Obdurate,  unbelieving.     Now  began 
The  executioners  to  spread  his  arms      [palms, 
Upon  the  beam  transverse,    and  through    his 
(Monsters  of  cruelty  !)  and  through  his  feet 
They  drove  their  spiked  nails  ;  whilst  at   the 

clang 
Of  those  dire  engines  every  feeling  heart 
Utter'd  a  groan,  that  with  the  mingled  shrieks 


200  CALVARY;  OB,  [book  yi. 

Of  mothers  and  of  children  pierc'd  the  air. 
The  priests  and  elders  gnash'd  their  teeth   for 

rage 
And  rancorous  spite  to  hear  him  so  bewa 'I'd  : 
Women dropp'd  down  convuls'd,  and  on  the  spot 
Let  fall  their  burthens  immature  for  birth;  560 
Words  fail  to  paint  the  horrors  of  that  scene  : 
The  very  soldiers  paus'd  and  stood  aghast, 
Musing  what  these  lamentings  might  portend  j 
Scarce  dar'd  they  to  pursue  the  dreadful  work, 
Awe-struck,  and  gazing  on  the  face  divino 
Of  the  suspended  Saviour.     He,  tho'  stretch'd 
Upon  the  rack  of  agony,  to  heav'n 
Raising  his  eyes — "  Father  of  mercy,"  cry'd, 
"  Forgive  them,   for  they  know  not  what  they 

do  !" 
O  ruthless  murd'rers  !  could  ye  hear  these 

words  570 

And  yet  persist  ?  Blasphemers  !  can  ye  read 
And  not  adore  ?  The  people  stand  at  gaze  : 
The  rulers,  eager  to  provoke  anew 
Their  quailing  resolution,  with  one  voice 
Cry  out  amain — "  Ah !  thou,  that  on  the  cross 
Now  hangest.. ..thou,  that  boastedstto  destroy 
Our  temple  and  rebuild  it  in  three  days, 
Where  art  thou  ?  If  thou  be  the  very  Christ, 
The  King  of  Israel,  now  come  down,  descend 
And  save  thyself :  this  seeing,  we  will  then 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  80i 

Confess  thee  and  believe.     But  'tis  in  vain ; 
He  hears  not. .he  replies  not,. .he  expires  : 
Others  he  sav'd  ;  himself  he  cannot  save." 

Peace,  peace,  revilers  !  nor  expect  reply : 
Think  not  that  Christ,  thus  dying  for  mankind, 
Will  from  his  great  commission  turn  aside 
And  stop  the  sacrifice  and  quit  the  cross, 
On  which  his  body  offer'd  up  for  sin 
As  on  an  altar  lies.     Your  taunts  he  hears  ; 
Yet  will  he  not  descend  call'd  down  by  you,  590 
Nor  at  the  door  of  death  shrink  back  and  leave 
Short  of  perfection  bis  all-glorious  work. 
But  wait  the  time,  and  greater  sign  than  this 
Ye  shall  behold,  when,  rising  from  the  dead 
And  incorruptible,  he  shall  return 
On  earth,  triumphant  o5er  the  cross  and  death. 
Yet,  such  is  the  perverseness  of  your  hearts, 
Jiim  nor  descending  would  ye  now  believe, 
JSov  re-ascending  would  ye  then  confess. 

And  now  behold  !  on  either  side  the  cross  600 
Of  Christ  a  wretched  malefactor  hung, 
Groaning  and  writhing  in  the  pangs  of  death  : 
When  one  of  these,  encourag'd  by  the  taunts 
Of  the  reviling  priests,  scornful  exclaims — 
"  Hear'st  thou  not  what  they   say  ?    If  thou  be 

Christ, 
Why  art  thou  in  this  torture  ?  Save  thyself, 
And  us  thy  fellows  from  this  cross  redeem," 

C  % 


203  CALVARY ;  OK,  [book  vi. 

This  when  his  penitent  companion  heard, 
New  horrors  smote  his  heart.. .his  fault?ring  voice 
He  .  iis'd,  and  thus  the  blasphemy  rebuk'd  :   610 

"  Hast  thou  no  fear  of  God.  expiring  wretch? 
Stretch'd  as  thou  .art  upon  the  tree  of  death, 
Hast  thou  no  terror  for  the  wrath  to  come  ? 
And  truly  we  the  merited  reword 
Of  our  ill  deeds  receive ;  hut  this  just  Man, 
What  hath  he  done  ?  In  him  no  fault  is  found." 

This  said,  the  penitent,  with  faith  inspired, 
Upon  the  Saviour  turri'd  his  dying  eyes, 
And,  "  Lord  !"  he  cry'd,  with  supplicating  voice, 
"When  to  thy  heavmiy kingdom  thoushalt  come, 
Oh  then  remember  me  !" — To  him  the  Lord- — 
"  I  tell  thee  of  a  truth  :  this  very  day 
Thou  shalt  be  found  in  paradise  with  me." 

Oh  !  words  of  joy,  that  breathe  into  the  ear 
Of  the  expiring  penitent  the  pledge 
Of  pardon  and  acceptance  :   Words,  that  waft 
The  soul,  yet  hovering  on  the  lips  of  faith, 
Into  the  heav'n  of  heav'ns  ;  with  grateful  heart 
We  hail  the  glorious  promise,  which  unfolds 
Tiie  gates  of  bliss,  and  present  entrance  gives 
To  the  repentant  sinner.     Now  no  more 
Conjecture  ponders  on  the  life  to  come  ; 
Our  dying  Saviour  draws  aside  the  veil, 
Through  which  dim  reason  caught  a  doubtful 
glimpse 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHUIST.         soi 

Of  shadowy  realms,    that,  stretclrd  beyond  the 


grave, 


Elysian  scenes  in  clouds  and  mist  involv'd. 
Yet  with  tliis  comfort  take  the  caution  too  ; 
For  who  shall  say  what  penitence  was  his, 
That  earn'd  this  promise  ?  Fatally  he  errs, 
Whose    hope  fore-runs  repentance — who  pre* 
slimes  t5t0 

That  God  will  pardon  when  he's  tir'd  of  sin, 
And  like  a  stale  companion  casts  it  off. 
Oh  !  arrogant,  delusive,  impious  thought, 
To  meditate  commodious  truce  with  heav'n, 
"When  death's  swift  arrow  smites  him  unprcpar'd, 
And  that  protracted  moment  never  comes, 
Or  comes  too  late.  Turn,  then,  presumptuous  man, 
Turn  to  the  other  sinner  on  the  cross, 
Who  died  reviling  :  there  behold  thy  doom  ! 
Thou,  too,  the  Virgin  Mother  of  our  Lord,    650 
By  the  angelic  salutation  haii'd 
Blest  above  women,  thou  amidst  the  group 
Of  sympathizing  mourners  at  that  hour 
Wast  present,  when  th'  incarnate  Virtue,  born 
Of  thine  immae'late  womb,  impregn'd  of  heav'n, 
Hung  on  the  cross  expiring.     He  from  thence 
On  thee,  disconsolate,  a  dying  look 
Of  tenderest  pity  cast,  and  at  thy  side 
Noting  the  meek  disciple  whom  he  lov'd, 
Tims  both  addressed;  t;  Woman,  behold  thy  Son; 


£04  CALVARY;    Oft,  [book  vl 

Soi)j  look  upon  thy  mother  !" — Sacred  charge. 
And  piously  fulfill'd. — Now  darkness  fell 
On  all  the  region  round  5  the  shrowded  sun  • 
from  the  impendent  eartli  withdrew  his  light  i 
K  I  thirst !"  the  Saviour  cry'd,  and  lifting  up 
His  eyes  in  agony,  "  My  God,  my  God  ! 
Ah  !  why  hast  thou  forsaken  me  ?."  exclaim'd. 

Yet  deem  him  not  forsaken  of  his  God  : 
Beware  that  error  I  'Twas  the  mortal  part 
Df  his  compounded  nature  breathing  forth  Q70 
Its  last  sad  agony*  that  so  complained  : 
Doubt  not  that  veil  of  sorrow  was  withdrawn, 
And  heav'nlv  comfort  to  his  soul  vouchsafed, 
Ere  thus  he  cried — "Father  !  into  thy  hands 
My  spirit  I  commend  :*?  Then  bow*d  his  head 
And   died.     Now    Gabriel   and   his  heav'nly 

choir 
Of  ministering  angels  hov?ring  o'er  the  cross 
Ileceiv'd  his  sp'rit,  at  length  from  mortal  pangs 
And  fleshly  pris'n  set  free,  and  bore  it  thence 
Upon  their  wings  rejoicing.     Then  behold  680 
A  prodigy  that  to  the  world  announced 
A  new  religion  and  dissolv'd  the  old  : 
The  temple's  sacred  vail  Was  rent  in  twain 
From  top  to  bottom  'midst  th'  attesting  shocks 
Of  earthquake  and  the  rending  up  of  graves  : 
Now  those  mysterious  symbols,  heretofore 
Curtain'd  from  vulgar  eyes,  and  holiest  deem'd 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.        205 

OF  holies,  were  display'd  to  public  view  : 
The  mercy-seat  with  its  cherubic  wings 
O'ershadow'd  and  the  golden  ark  beneath    690 
Covering  the  testimony,  now  through  the  rent 
Of  that  dissever'd  vail  first  saw  the  light  ; 
A  world  redeem'd  had  now  no  further  need 
Of  types  and  emblems,  dimly  shadowing  forth 
An  angry  Deity  withdrawn  from  sight. 
And  canopied  in  clouds  I  Him  face  to  face 
Now  in  full  light  reveal'd  the  dying  breath 
Of  his  dear  Son  appeas'd,  and  purchas'd  peace 
And  reconcilement  for  offending  man. 
Thus  the  partition  wall,  by  Moses  built,        700 
By  Christ  was  levell'd,  and  the  Gentile  world 
Enter'd  the  breach  by  their  great  Captain  led 
tip  to  the  throne  of  grace,  opening  himself 
Through  his  own  flesh  a  new  and  living  way. 
Then  were  the  oracles  of  God  made  known 
To  all  the  nations,  sprinkled  by  the  blood 
Of  Jesus,  and  baptiz'd  into  his  death  ; 
So  was  the  birth-right  of  the  elder-born, 
Heirs  of  the  promise,  forfeited  ;  whilst  they, 
Whom  sin  had  erst  in  bondage  held,  made  free 
From  sin,  and  servants  of  the  living  God, 
Now  gain'd  the  gift  of  God,  eternal  life. 
Soon  as  these  signs  and  prodigies  were  seen 
Of  those  who  watch'd  the  cross,  conviction  smote 
Their  fear-struck  hearts  :  The  sun  at  noon-day 
dark, 


&0&  CALVARY;    OR,         [book  vl 

The  earth  convulsive  underneath  their  feet, 
And  the  firm  rocks,  in  shiver'd  Fragments  rent, 
Rous'd  them  at  once  to  tremble  and  believe. 
Then  was  our  Lord  by  heathen  lips  confess'd, 
When  the  centurion  crv'd  :  "  In  verv  truth  720 
This  righteous  Person  was  the  Son  of  God  ;" 
The  rest,  in  heart  assenting,  stood  abash'd, 
Watching  in  silence  the  tremendous  scene. 
The  recollection  of  his  gracious  acts, 
His  dying  pray'rs  and  their  own  impious  taunts 
Now  rose  in  sad  review  ;  too  late  thev  wish'd 
The  deed    undone,    and,  sighing,   smote  their 
breasts.  [forth, 

Straight  from  God's  presence  went  that  angel 
Whose  trumpet  shall  call  up  the  sleeping  dead 
At  the  last  day,  and  bade  the  saints  arise      730 
And  come  on  earth  to  hail  this  promis'd  hour, 
The  day-spring  of  salvation.     Forth  they  came 
From  their  dark  tenements,  their  shadowy  forms 
Made  visible  as  in  their  fleshly  state, 
And  through  the  holy  Q\ty  here  and  there 
Frequent  they  glcam'd,  by  night ,by  day  with  fear 
And  wonder  seen  of  many :  Holy  seers, 
Prophets,  and  martyrs  from  the  grave  set  free, 
And  the  first-fruits  of  the  redeemed  dead. 
They,  who   with  Ciitust   transfigur'd  on   the 

mount 
Were  seen  of  his  disciples  in  a  cloud 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         207 

Of  dazzling  glory,  now,  in  form  distinct, 
Mingling  amidst  the  public  haunts  of  men, 
Struck  terror  to  all  hearts  :   Ezckiel  there, 
The  captive  seer,  to  whom  on  Chchar's  banks 
The  heav'ns  were  open'd,  and  the  fatal  roll 
Held  forth,  with  dire  denunciations  fill-d 
Of  lamentation,  mourning  and  of  woe, 
Now  falling  fast  on  Israel's  wretched  race  : 
He  too  was  there,  Hilkiah's  holy  son,  750 

With  loins  close  girt  and  glowing  lips  of  fire 
By  God's  own  finger  touch'd  :  There  might  be 

seen 
The  youthful  prophet,  Beltcshazzar  nam'd 
Of  the  Chaldees,  interpreter  of  dreams, 
Knowledge  of  Godbestow'd,  in  visions  skili'd 
And  fair  and  learn'd  and  wise  :    The  Baptist 

here, 
Girt  in  his  hairy  mantle,  frowning  stalkHl, 
And,  pointing  to  his  ghastly  wound,  exclaim'd : 
"  Ye   vipers  !  whom  my  warning  could  not 

move 
Timely  to  flee  from  the  impending  wrath    700 
Now  fallen  on  your  heads  ;  whom  I  indeed 
With  water,  Christ  hath  now  with  fire  haptiz'd  : 
Barren  ye  were  of  fruits,  which  I  prescribed 
Meet  for  repentance  ;  and  behold  !  the  axe 
Is  laid  to  the  unprofitable  root 
Of  every  sapless  tree,  hewn  down,  condemu'd, 


308  CALVARY;  OR,         [book  vi. 

And  cast  into  the  fire.     Lo  !  these  are  they, 
These  shadowy  forms  now  floating  in  your  sight, 
These  are  the  harhingers  of  ancient  days, 
Who  witness'd  the  Messias,  and  announc'd  770 
His  coming  upon  earth.     Mark  with  what  scorn 
Silent  they  pass  you  by  :  Them  had  ye  heard.,. 
Them  had  ye  noted  with  a  patient  mind, 
Ye  had  not  crucified  the  Lord  of  Life  : 
He  of  these  stones  to  Abraham  shall  raise  up 
Children,  than  you  more  worthy  of  his  stock ; 
And  now  his  winnowing  fan  is  in  his  hand, 
With  which  he'll  purge  his  floor,  and   having* 

stor'd 
The  precious  grain  in  garners,  will  consume 
With  fire  unquenchable  the  refuse  chaff.       7^0 

Thus  the  terrific  Vision  in  the  ears 
Of  the  astonish'd  multitude  declaim'd 
With  threat'ning  voice,  and  wrung  their  con? 

scious  hearts  ;  [scorn 

Whilst  the  blaspheming  priests,  who  in  their 
Triumphant  saw  the  Saviour  of  the  world 
Expiring  on  the  cross  and  deem'd  him  lost, 
Now  by  the  resurrection  of  the  saints, 
Usher'd  on  earth  with  prodigies  and  signs, 
Confounded  and  amaz'd,  began  to  doubt 
If  yet  the  sepulchre  had  power  to  keep         790 
Its  crucified  possessor  safe  in  hold, 
And    with  these  thoughts  porplex'd,   masking 

their  fears 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         S09 

Under  pretence  of  caution,  they  repair 

To  Pilate  and  demand  a  Roman  guard 

To  watch  the  tomb  of  Christ  ;  and  then  they 

add— 
(C  For  we  remember  that  Deceiver  said, 
Whilst  lie  was  yet  alive,  "  after  three  days 
I  will  again  arise  :''  therefore  we  pray 
Command  the  sepulchre  to  be  made  sure 
Till  the  third  day,  lest  his  disciples  come     800 
By  night,  and  craftily  remove  him  thence ; 
So  the  last  error  shall  ontsro  the  first." 

But  Pilate,  whose   unrighteous  judgment 
still 
Sate  heavy  on  his  heart,  had  little  care 
For  what  might  them  befal,  and  to  their  suit 
Briefly  reply 'd — "  Why  do  ye  ask  of  me 
That  custody,  which  in  yourselves  ye  have? 
Take  your  own  watch  and  to  their  charge  com- 

.    mit 
The  safeguard  of  that  body,  which,  though  dead, 
Keeps  yet  alive  your  fears  :  'Tis  your  own  cause. 
As  such  I  leave  it  with  you  :  so  begone  !" 

He  said,  and  turn'd  aside;  nor  did  they  tempt 
Farther  discourse,  but  murm'ring  went  their 
way. 

END   OF  THE    SIXTH  BOOK, 
1)3 


AJu; 


OR, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST. 


BOOK  VII. 


ARGUMENT  OF  THE  SEVENTH  BOOK. 


This  book  opens  with  the  scene  of  Mount  Calvary  at  the  coming  on  of 
evening  :  Christ  still  hanging  dead  upon  the  cross,  the  disciples  stand- 
ing apart,  and  the  holy  women  watching,  amongst  whom  is  the  Blessed 
Virgin,  supported  by  St.  John,  Christ  having  bequeathed  her  to  his  care. 
His  address  to  her  on  this  subject,  and  her  reply.  The  soldiers  come 
and  break  the  legs  of  the  two  malefactors  ;  but  finding  Christ  already 
dead,  they  pierce  his  heart  with  a  spear,  and  blood  and  water  issue 
from  the  wound.  They  take  him  down  from  the  cross,  and  lay  him  in 
the  sepulchre.  His  spirit,  in  the  meanwhile,  is  conveyed  by  the  angels 
into  the  regions  of  Death  ;  that  region  described,  and  the  distant  pros- 
pect  of  the  bottomless  pit,  where  the  souls  of  the  wicked  are  in  tor- 
ment. Christ  points  out  those  scenes  to  Gabriel,  and  instructs  him  a3 
to  the  future  objects  of  hisdescent  into  this  gloomy  region.  Satan,  ex- 
pelled from  earth,  fails  prostrate  at  the  foot  of  the  throne  of  Death  ;  he 
makes  suit  to  that  power  for  protection.  Death  rejects  his  interces- 
sions. The  person  and  palace  of  the  King  of  Terrors  described.  The 
triumphant  entry  of  Christ  Satan  is  hurled  into  the  bottomless  pit, 
and  there  bound  by  the  strong  angel  ;  the  horrors  of  that  dreadful  abode 
are  represented.  Death  humbles  himself  before  the  Redeemer  of  man- 
kind, and,  conscious  that  his  power  is  overthrown,  tenders  his  crown  to 
Christ  as  his  conqueror.  He  lays  the  key  at  his  feet,  which  sets  free 
the  souls  of  the  Saints,  who  are  destined  to  be  partakers  of  the  first  res- 
urrection. This  key  is  given  to  Gabriel,  with  instructions  for  their  re- 
lease. Christ,  in  his  reply  to  Death,  forwarns  him  of  his  doom;  but 
signifies  to  him  that  the  dissoluron  of  his  power  will  not  be  immediate. 
The  approach  of  the  Saints  concludes  the  book. 


CALVARY,  &c. 


BOOK  VII. 


THE  DESCENT  INTO  IIELE. 

JN  OW  Hesperus  renew'd  his  evening  lamp, 
And  hung  it  forth  amid  the  turbid  sky, 
To  mark  the  close  of  this  portentous  day  : 
The  lab'ring  sun,  in  his  mid-course  eclips'd, 
Darkling  at  length  had  reach'd  his  western  goal ; 
And  now  it  seem'd  as  if  all  nature  slept, 
O'erspent  and  wearied  with  convulsive  throes. 
Upon  his  cross  the  martyr' d  Saviour  hung ; 
Pale  thro'  the  twilight  gleam'd  his  breathless 

corpse 
And  silvery  white,  as  when  the  moon-beam  plays 
On  the  smooth  surface  of  the  glassy  lake  ; 
His  thorn-crown'd  head  upon  his  breast  reclin'd; 
His  arms  were  wide  out-spread,  as  if  in  act 
T'  embrace  and  welcome  the  converted  world : 
So  were  they  late  expanded,  when  he  cry'd — 
"  Come,  all  ye  heavy  laden,  come  to  me, 
And  [.will  give  you  rest !"  Death  hath  not  dar'd 
To  rob  those  features  of  one  heav'nly  grace  ; 
Nor  had  the  worm  authority  to  taint 


&14  CALYARY;  OR,         [bookvii. 

That  incorruptible  and  hallow'd  shrine  20 

Wherein  his  purity  had  deign'd  to  dwell. 
The  living  saints  here  mingling  with  the  dead 
Stood  round,  in  pensive  meditation  wrapt, 
Silent  spectators  of  the  awful  scene  : 
There  his  disciples,  in  a  group  apart, 
Like  frighted  sheep  that  cluster  in  a  storm, 
Throng'd  each  on  other,  interchanging  looks 
Of  sorrow  and  despair  :  no  voice  was  heard, 
Ko  utterance  hut  of  sighs  ;  though  ail  had  need 
Of  comfort,  none  had  comfort  to  bestow.  30 

Bui:  Peter,  in  whose  self-accusing  breast    [out 
Grief  roll'd  in  tempests,    had  the  whilst  chos-n 
A  solitary  spot,  where  at  his  length 
Outstrctch'd,witli  face  incumbent  on  the  ground. 
He  lay  like  one  whom  fortune  had  cast  off, 
Of  all  hope  'reft,  most  wretched  and  forlorn. 

There  too  the  holy  Mother  might  be  seen, 
Like  Rizpah,  watching  o'er  her  murdcr'd  son, 
Hooted  in  earth,  a  monument  of  woe. 
Reside  her,  bath'd  in  sympathizing  tears,       40 
First  in  his  Master- s  love,  as  meek  of  soul, 
Stood  John,  adopted  by  his  dying  Lord 
Son  and  supporter  of  that  mournful  saint. 
At  length  with  reverend  love  he  turn'd  his  eyes 
Upon  the  Tirgin  Mother,  and  thus  spake  : 

44  Oh  thou  !  participant  with  God  himself 
In  his  incarnate  Offspring,  if  I  claim 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         3 1 5 

The  glorious  title,  which  my  dying  Lord 
On  me,  thy  servant  ever,  now  thy  son, 
Gracious  bequeuth'd,  let  not  my  words  offend.  50 
High  honor,  and  a  trust  than  life  more  dear, 
Hath  Cueist  by  this  adoption  deign'd  to  east 
On  me  unmeriting  ;  yet  well  I  heard 
Those  sacred  words — c;  Mother,  heboid  tliy  soa ; 
Son,  look  upon  thy  mother  !"   Yes,  I  heard, 
And  treasuring  in  my  heart  the  rich  bequest, 
B»wTd  andobey'd  :  E'en  then  my  zeal  had  spoke 
The  dictates  of  devotion,  had  I  dar'd 
To  break  the  awful  silence  of  that  hour, 
Or  sacrilegiously  divert  the  ear  60 

Of  mute  attention,  whilst  those  lips  divine, 
Those  living  oracles,  had  breath  to  move  ; 
Now  mute,  alas  !  for  He  is  now  no  more, 
Who  had  the  words  of  life:  Our  hope  is  queneliM, 
Our  glory  tanish'd.     See  !  the  dwd.  is  done  : 
Those  murderers  have  kill' d  the  Prince  of  Peace. 
Cold  on  the  cross,  and  stiff 'ning  in  the  wind, 
To  the  rude  elements  his  corpse  is  left  ; 
Nor  is  there  found,  who  shall  provide  a  grave 
For  the  sad  relies  of  the  Son  of  God.  70 

But  lo  !  the  heav'ns,  that  three  long  hours  have 

mourn*  d 
In  darkness,  now  throw  off  their  sable  shroud  : 
The  earth  no  longer  quakes  beneath  oar  feet— 
The  shatter'd  rocks  subside — Nature  U  calia, 


216  CALVAHY;  OR,         [bookvii. 

The  sun  unmasks,  and  through  disparted  clouds 
With  ruddy  twilight  streaks  the  western  sky. 
And  may  not  we,  since  God  hath  now  withdraw: 
His  terrors  and  assuag'd  the  wrathful  sky, 
May  not  we  hope,  that  as  his  light  revives 
At  the  third  hour,  so  of  his  blessed  Son 
The  promised  resurrection  to  new  life 
At  the  third  day  shall  also  come  to  pass  ? 
When,  as  the  sun  emerging  from  eclipse 
Darkness  dispels,  so  Christ  from  out  the  gftive 
Arising,  shall  dispel  our  dark  despair  ?" 
To  him  the  holy  mother  thus  replied  : 
"  Thou  meek  disciple,  in  thy  Master's  love 
Pre-eminently  blest,  since  He,  whose  will 
Should  govern,  so  decrees  it,  from  this  hour 
Henceforth  I  lodge  thee  in  a  mother's  heart  90 
And  hold  thee  as  my  son  ;  for  I  perceive 
Christ  from  his  human  nature  is  withdrawn. 
And  to  mortality  hath  rendered  back 
All  that  from  me  a  mortal  he  received  : 
His  incorruptible  now  lives  with  God, 
And  in  that  glory  I  no  part  must  claim  ; 
Flesh  cannot  share   with  spirit.     Henceforth 

thou, 
Thou  art  my  son  adopted  in  the  place 
Of  that  incarnate  Virtue?  of  whose  birth 
Miraculous  the  eastern  star  gave  sign,  100 

And  angels  witness'd  him  the  Son  of  God. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         217 

And  now,  behold  !  what  wonders  mark  his  death : 
Whence  are  these  prodigies  ?  What  but  the  hand 
Of  God  can  shake  the  pillars  of  the  earth, 
Seal  up  the  sun,  and  rend  these  rocks  in  twain... 
Turn  day  to  night,  tear  down  the  temple  veil, 
Break   up  the  graves  and  bid  the    saints  come 

forth  ? 
Lo,  where  they  pass  as  sensible  to  sight 
As  in  broad  day  substantial  man  to  man. 
And  can  we  ask  if  he  be  very  Christ,  110 

Whom  stars  and  angels  usher'd  into  birth  ? 
Can  we  doubt  Him  on  whom  the  Sp'rit  of  God 
Dove-like  descended  ?  Can  we  stop  our  ears 
Against  a  voice  from  heav'n  ?  Are  we  so  blind, 
Dull,  and  insensible,  not  to  behold 
That  sun  emergent,  and  these  moving  shapes, 
That  to  re-visit  earth  have  left  their  graves, 
Awaken'd  as  from  sleep  ?  If  these  can  rise — 
If  these,  whose  bones  are  moulder'd  into  dust, 
On  whom  the  worm  hath  fed  for  ages,  men    120 
As  mortal  as  ourselves,  can  re-ascend 
Out  of  the  pit,  do  not  these  signs  bespeak 
His  second  coming,  who  Is  Lord  and  Christ? 
He  shall,  He  shall  return  upon  the  earth 
Victorious  over  death,  and  we,  though  now 
Humbled  in  heart  and  for  a  season  sad, 
Yet  wav'ring  not  in  faith  and  holding  fast 
Tiie  anchor  of  our  hope,  shall  yet  again 

E2 


218  CALVARY;  OR,         [bookvii. 

Behold  his  glory  ;  and  as  now  his  death 
Tarns  day  to  night,  his  resurrection  then      130 
Shall  into  joy  convert  our  present  gloom. 
But  see,  where  Peter  prostrate  on  the  earth 
Is  lost  in  sorrow  :   Haste  and  hid  him  rise  ; 
Tell  him  the  day's  at  hand  when  he  must  work. 
Hath  he  not  heard,  the  servant  shall  not  sleep 
In  his   Lord's  ahscnce  ?    Strengthen   thou   his 

heart !" 
So  spake  these  saints,  and  each  to  other  gave 
Alternate  solace  ;  faith  inspiring  hope, 
And  hope  assuaging  woe.     At  Peter's  side 
Behold  the  meek  disciple — "  Up  !"   he  cries, 
"  Awake   and  put   on   strength :    The   Virgin 

Saint, 
The  Mother  of  our  Lord,  hids  thee  awake. 
Unprofitable  grief  availeth  nought, 
But  godly  sorrow  is  approv'd  in  works      [dead, 
Meet  for  repentance.     Up  !  for  Christ,  though 
Yet  speaketh,  and  shall  come  again  on  earth  : 
Woe  to  that  servant,  therefore,  whom  his  Lord 
Shall  find  thus   sleeping  ;    great    shall  be    his 

wrath."  [up  ; 

This  said,  he  reach'd  his  hand  and  raisd  him 

He  stood  and   spake — "  Servant,  of  Christ  ap- 

prov'd,  150 

Thee  and  thy  blessed  Sender  I  obey  : 
Yet  doth  my  heart,  by  deep  remorse  subdu'd. 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         219 

Press  downward  to  the  dust.     A.  wretch  t  am, 
Who  hath  deny'd  his  Lord  :  What  can  I  do, 
A  miserable  man  ?     O  righteous  John, 
When  thou  shalt  spread  abroad,  as  sure  thou  wilt, 
The  direful  doings  of  this  fatal  day, 
And  publish  to  mankind  the  w  ond'rous  love 
Of  Christ  thus  dying  for  them,  I  conjure  thee 
15.-  faithful  to  the  truth — screen  not  my  crime, 
Foul  though  it  he,  but  let  the  nations  know 
Peter,  who  vaunted  of  himself,  was  false  ; 
So  shall  they  reap  instruction  from  my  shame, 
And  by  despising  me  correct  themselves." 
Thus  spake  the  contrite  saint,  when  now  the 
priests, 
Whose  custom  was  upon  this  solemn  eve 
To  purge  their  Golgotha  from  human  blood, 
Sent  forth  their  guard  official  to  remove 
Christ  and  the  slaves  convict  before  the  dawn 
Of  that  great  day,  too  haliow'd  to  permit       170 
Their  bodies  fest'ring  on  th'  ill-omen'd  cross. 
And  lo  !  the  soldiers  so  encharg'd  arrive, 
Survey  the  victims  and  begin  the  work  : 
But  first  the  ponderous  sledge  with  horrid  crash 
Descending  breaks  the  knees  and  ankle  joints 
Of  these  two  criminals  ;  for  stubborn  life- 
Still  hover'd  on  their  lips,  and  now  and  then 
Their  heaving  bosoms  fetch'd  a  deep-drawn  sigh, 
like  the  «low  swell  of  seas  without  a  wind. 


%20  CALVAHY;  OB,        [book  til 

But  when  the  Saviour's  body  they  approach'd 
And  saw  there  needed  not  a  second  blow 
To  make  his  death  secure,  the  word  of  God 
Prophetic  mov'd  their  else  obdurate  hearts 
To  break  no  limb  ;  yet  one  so  destin'd,  thrust 
His  spear  into  his  side,  and  forthwith  flow'd 
Water  and  blood  from  the  heart-piercing  wound : 
So  deep  the  stab,  that  to  life's  citadel, 
Had  life  remain'd,  the  mortal  point  had  reached 
And  there  had  finish'd  it.     Meanwhile,  behold  ! 
Joseph  arrives  ;  a  counsellor  was  he,  190 

But  not  for  death,  and  rich  and  just  withal ; 
In  Ramath  born,  where  Samuel  first  drew  breath, 
And  as  his  heart  in  righteousness  and  faith 
Stood  firm  with  Christ  whilst  living,  so  his  zeal 
An  honorable  interment  to  bestow 
On  his  dead  master,  prompted  him  to  make 
Bold  suit  to  Pilate  for  the  lifeless  corpse, 
Kor  fuil'd  he  of  his  suit  ;  therefore  he  came, 
So  favor'd,  to  receive  the  precious  charge 
Of  those  dear  relics,  and  with  decent  rites     200 
Commit   them  to  the   grave  :  Spear' d    to  the 

heart, 
And  death  with  double  diligence  ensur'd, 
The  body  they  take  down  ;  the  hands  and  feet 
Pierc'd  thro'  with  nails,  and  all  besmear'd  with 

blood, 
(O  piteous  spectacle  !)  which  to  behold 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  22  1 

Bathes  every  angel  face  in  heav'n  with  tears  ! 
Accursed  deicides  !  the  time  comes  on, 
When  every  mark  your  sacrilegious  hands 
Have  printed  on  that  corpse,  shall  he  a  seal 
To  testify  against  you,  every  gash  210 

Unclos'd  shall  with  its  living  lips  proclaim 
Christ  in  his  human  attributes  renew 'd, 
Corporeal,  yet  immortal  :  Then  the  hand 
Of  him  who  doubts    shall  probe   those    gaping 

wounds, 
And  by  the  evidence  of  sense  compel 
The  faithless  and  reluctant  to  believe. 
And  now  they  place  the  body  on  the  bier, 
Cleans'd  of  the  blood,  and  wrapt  in  seemly  cloths  : 
Then  under  guard  convey  it  to  the  vault 
Hewn  in  the  rock,  where  never  corpse  was  laid, 
And  there  consign  it  to  its  dark  abode, 
Rolling  a  massy  fragment  to  the  door, 
Unwieldy,  vast  ;  and  having  seal'd  the  stone, 
They  post  their  centinels,  and  so  depart,     [free 
Meanwhile  th'  unhoused  spirit  of  Christ,  set 
From  gross  communion  with  his  earthly  clay, 
Borne  with  the  meteor's  speed  upon  the  wings 
Of  mightiest  cherubim,  had  now  approach'd 
The  dark  confines  of  Death's  engulph'd  domain  : 
Here  at  the  barrier  of  that  vast  profound         230 
On  the  firm  adamant,  from  whence  uprose 
The  tow'ring  structure  of  hell's  ebon  gate, 


222  CALVARY;  OR,         [bookyii. 

The  heav'nly  visitant  descending  bade 
His  cherub  bearers  stoop  their  wings,  on  which 
As  in  a  plumy  chariot  he  rode  ; 
And  now  alighted  on  the  dreadful  brink, 
The  Saviour  paus'd  and  downward  cast  his  eye 
O'er  that  immeasurable  blank,  the  grave 
Of  universal  Nature,  founded  then 
And  charter'd  to  the  gloomy  powers  of  sin     240 
And  Death,  sin-born,  when  the  primeval  pair 
Lost  immortality  and  fell  from  God. 
The  starry  lamps  of  heav'n  here  lost  their  light, 
No  sun-beam  ever  reach'd  this  dismal  realm  : 
Yet  in  Christ's  sp*rit  divine  that  living  light, 
Whichfrom  the  father  of  creation  ilow'd 
Before  all  time,  inherently  supplied 
Sclf-furnisliM  vision  to  explore  the  bounds 
Of  that  oblivious  pit,  in  whose  dark  womb 
Myriads  of  unredeemed  souls  were  plung'd  ; 
All  who  of  human  birth  had  pr.ss'd  that  gate 
From  righteous  Abel,  the  first  fruit  of  death, 
To  him,  whose  heart  had  newly  ceas-d  to  beat, 
Were  in  that  gulph  immers'd.     At  farthest  end 
Of  that  obscure  apillary  cloud  arose  [stcam-d; 
Of   sulphurous    smoke,  that  from   hell's   crater 
Whence  here  and  there  by  intermittent  gleams 
Blue  flashing  fires  burst  forth,  that  sparkling 

blnz'd 
Up  to  the  iron  roof,  whose  echoing  vault 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHEIST.  223 

Resounded  ever  with  the  dol'rous  groans      260 
Of  the  sad  crew  beneath  :  Thence    might  he 

heard 
The  wailing  suicide's  remorseful  plaint.... 
The  murderer's  yelling  scream,  and  the  loud  cry 
Of  tyrants  in  that  fiery  furnace  hurl'd, 
Tain  cry  !  the  unmitigated  furies  urge 
Their  ruthless  task,  and  to  the  cauldron's  edge 
With  ceasless  toil  huge  hlocks  of  sulphcr  roll, 
Pil'd  mountains  high  to  feed  the  greedy  flames  : 
All  these,  th*  accursed  brood  of  Sin,  were  once 
The  guilty  pleasures,  the  false  joys,  that  lur'd  270 
Their  sensual  vot'ries  to  th'  infernal  pit : 
Them  their  fell  mother,  watchful  o'er  the  work. 
With   e}Te    that  sleep  ne'er  clos'd    and  snaky 


scourge 


Still  waving  o'er  their  heads,  forever  plies 
To  keep  the  fiery  deluge  at  its  height ; 
And  stops  her  cars  against  the  clam'rous  din 
Of  those  tormented,  who  for  mercy  call, 
Age  after  age  implor'd,  and  still  dehy'd. 

These  when  th'  all-present  Spirit  of  Christ 

descryrd 
At  distance  tossing  in  {lie  sulph'rous  lake     *2S0 
And  heard  their  dismal   groans,   the   conscious 

sense 
Of  human  weakness  by  experience  earn'd 
In  his  own  mortal  body  now  put  oil*. 


224  CALVARY;  OB,         [bookvii. 

And  recollection  that  Himself  of  late 
In  his  sublunar  pilgrimage  had  prov'd 
Temptations  like  theirs,  drew  from  his  soul 
A  sigh  of  nat'ral  pity  as  from  man 
To  man  although  in  merited  distress  : 
But  when  his  human  sympathy  gave  place 
To  judgment  better  weigh'd,  and  riper  thoughts 
Congenial  with  the  Godhead  re-assum'd, 
The  justice  of  their  doom,  th*  abhorrence  due 
To  their  vile  deeds,  by  voluntary  act 
Of  will,  left  free,  committed  in  despite 
Of  conscience  moving  them  to  better  thoughts, 
Turn'd  him  indignant  from  the  loathed  sight 
Of  these  impenitents  :  when,  after  pause, 
To  Gabriel,  chief  of  the  cherubic  host 
And  late  his  strengthening  angel,  thus  he  spake  : 
"  Gabriel,  or  e'er  from  this  high  steep  we 
launch  300 

With  prone  descent  into  this  gloomy  vast, 
This  shadowy  dark  inane,  the  realm  of  Death  ; 
After  so  swift  a  race  through  all  the  spheres 
From  earth  to  this  hell's  portal,  it  behoves 
Thee  and  thy  plumed  cohort  to  recruit 
The  vigor  of  your  wings  ;  for  sure  I  am 
That  in  this  subterranean  we  shall  find 
Xo  breeze  from  heav'n's  pure  sether  to  give  aid 
To  motion,  or  uphold  in  steady  poise 
Your  feath'ry  vans  outstretched ;  nor  may  we 
look  310 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  225 

For  star  or  planet,  or  one  straggling  ray 
From  circumlucent  sun,  to  guide  our  course 
Through   this    obscure  domain  of  Night  and 

Death. 
Nor  less  behoves  thee,  gentle  as  thou  art, 
Friendliest  to  man  of  all  heav'n's  angel  host, 
And  for  each  task  of  mercy  and  of  love 
First  in  the  choice  of  God,  to  arm  thy  heart 
For  the  sad  spectacles,  the  dismal  scenes, 
Which  we  must  needs  encounter  in  this  gulph 
Of  human  misery,  this  world  of  woes,  320 

Fit  residence  for  Satan  and  his  crew 
Of  outcast  angels  ;  sad  reverse  to  thee, 
Inhabitant  of  heav'n  :   And  now,  behold ! 
Where  hell's  infernal  pit  with  horrid  glare 
Flames  through  the  dismal  gloom  ;  there,  but 

that  God 
In  mercy  films  thine  arch-angelic  eye, 
Such  myriads  in  that  ever-burning  lake 
Of  souls  tormented  thou  would'st  else  discern, 
As  would  appal  thy  nature  ;  but  these  scenes 
From  thee,  a  sp'rit  so  loving  to  mankind,     330 
So  melting  soft  to  pity,  are  withheld : 
No  mercy  can  I  meditate  for  them 
Impenitent.. .no  embassy  of  peace 
Have  I  in  charge.. .no  respite,  till  the  trump 
Of  general  resurrection  calls  them  up 
At  the  last  day  of  judgment,  then  to  hear 

F  2 


226  CALVARY;  OR,         [bookvij. 

Their  crimes  rehears'd... their  blasphemies   ex- 
posed... [plots, 
Their  envyings,  frauds,   revilings,  treach'ries, 
And  ev'ry  secret  of  their  hearts  unmask'd 
By  an  all-righteous  Judge,  who  shall  pronounce 
Their  final  condemnation,  and  decree 
Their  present  pains  perpetual.    We,  meanwhile, 
To  other  regions  shall  divert  our  course, 
From  them  and  from  their  torments  far  apart, 
Regions  of  night  and  silence,  where  the  souls 
Of  righteous  men  in  their  oblivious  caves 
Sleep  out  the  time  till  their  Deliv'rer  comes 
To  wake  them  from  their  trance. ..dissolve  the 

spell 
Of  their  enchanter,  Death,  and  set  them  free 
To  range  the  fields  of  Paradise,  where  flows,  350 
As  from  a  fountain  by  God's  presence  fed, 
Beatitude  surpassing  human  thought, 
Pleasures  unseen,  unnumber'd,  unconceiv'd." 

This  said,  from  those  high  battlements    the 
Dove 
Of  Peace,  upon  Redemption's  errand  sent, 
Borne  on  the  wings  of  his  cherubic  choir, 
Descended  swift,  and  through  the  drowsy  void 
To  Death's  terrific  palace  steer'd  his  flight. 

Here  the  arch-foe  of  man,  from  earth  expell'd 
By  man's  Redeemer,  newly  had  arriv'd.  360 
But  fear-struck,  and  in  like  disastrous  trim 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  227 

With  war-worn  Siscra,  when  in  his  flight, 

From  the  victorious  Naphtalite  he  came 

To  ask  protection  at  false  Jael's  tent, 

And  rain  found  instead.    The  whirlwind's  blast 

Had  shatter'd  his  proud  form  ;  now  scorch'd  by 

fires, 
Xow  driv'n  to  regions  of  perpetual  frost 
Beyond  extremest  Saturn's  wlnt'ry  sphere, 
No  middle  course  kept  he,  nor  had  his  feet 
From  their  serial  journey  once  found  rest,     370 
Till,  at  the  threshold  of  Death's  gloomy  throne, 
Down  on  the  solid  adamant  he  fell 
Precipitate  at  once,  and  lay  entranc'd, 
Of  arch-angelic  majesty  the  wreck. 

Scar'd  at  the  hideous  crash,  and  all  aghast, 
Death   scream'd  amain,    then  wrapt  himself  in 

clouds, 
And  in  his  dark  pavilion  trembling  sate 
Mantled  in  night.     And  now  the  prostrate  fiend 
Ilear'd  his  terrific  head  with  lightnings  scorch'd, 
And  furrow'd  deep  with  scars  of  livid  hue  ;  380 
Then  stood  erect  and  roll'd  his  blood-shot  eyes 
To  find  the  ghastly  vision  of  grim  Death, 
"Who  at  the  sudden  downfal  of  his  sire 
Startled,  and  of  his  own  destruction  warn'd, 
Had  shrunk  from  sight,  and  to  a  misty  cloud 
Dissolv'd,  hunglow'ringo'er  his  shrouded  throne. 
When  Satan,  whose  last  hope  was  now  at  stake, 


228  CALVARY;  OR,         [bookvh. 

Impatient  for  the  interview,  exclaim'd — 

';  Where  art  thou,  Death  ?  Why  hide  thyself 
from  him  [king  ; 

Of  whom   thou  art  ?  Come  forth,   thou    grisly 
And  though  to  suitor  of  immortal  mould 
Thy  refuge  he  denied,  yet  at  my  call, 
Thv  father's  call,  come  forth  and  comfort  me. 
Thou  gaunt  anatomy,  with  one  short  glimpse 
Of  those  dry  bones,  in  which  alone  is  peace 
And  that  oblivious  sleep,  for  which  I  sigh." 
He  said,  and  now  a  deep  and  hollow  groan, 
Like  roar  of  distant  thunders,  shook  the  hall, 
And  from  before  the  cloud-envelop'd  throne, 
The  adamantine  pavement  burst  in  twain     400 
With  hideous  crash  self-open-d,  and  display'd 
A  subterranean  chasm,  whose  yawning  vault, 
Deep  as  the  pit  of  Acheron,  forbade 
All  nearer  access  to  the  shad'wy  king. 
Whereat  the  imprison'd  winds,  that  in  its  womb 
Were  cavern'd,  'sj-an  to  heave  their  veastv  waves 
In  bubbling  exhalations,  till  at  once 
Their  eddying  vapors  working  upwards  burst 
From  the  broad ventenfranchis'd,  when,  behold  ! 
The  cloud  that  late  around  the  throne  had  poured 
More  than  Egyptian  darkness,  now  began 
To  lift  its  fleecy  skirts,  till  through  the  mist 
Th'  imperial   phantom  glcam'd  ;  monster  do- 
form'd, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         2S9 

Enormous,  terrible,  from  heel  to  scalp 
One  dire  anatomy  ;  his  giant  bones  [hung 

Star'd  through  the  shrivell'd  skin,  that  loosely 
On  his  sepulchral  carcass  ;  round  his  brows 
A  cypress  wreath,  tiara-like,  he  wore, 
"With  night  shade  and  cold  hemlock  intertwin'd ; 
Behind  him  hung  his  quiver'd  store  of  darts  420 
Wing'd  with  the  raven's  plume  ;  his  fatal  bow 
Of  deadly  yew,  tall  as  Goliah's  spear, 
Propp'd  his  unerring  arm  ;  about  his  throne, 
(If  throne  it  might  be  caU'd,which  was  compos'd 
Of  human  bones,  as  in  a  charnel  pil'd,) 
A  hideous  group  of  dire  diseases  stood, 
Sorrows  and  pains  and  agonizing  plagues, 
His  ghastly  satellites,  and,  ev'n  than  these 
More  terrible,  ambition's  slaught'ring  sons, 
Heroes  and  conquerors  styl'd  on  earth ;  but  here 
Doom'd  to  ignoble  drudgery,  employ'd 
To  do  his  errands  in  the  loathsome  vault, 
And  tend  corruption's  ne*ver-dying  worm, 
To  haunt  the  catacombs  and  ransack  graves, 
Where  some  late  pop'lous  city  is  laid  waste 
By  the  destroying  pestilence,  or  storm'd 
By  murd'ring  Russ  or  Tartar  blood-besmear'd. 
And  furious  on  the  desp'rate  breach  to  plant 
His  eagle  or  his  cresent  on  the  piles 
Of  mangled  multitudes,  and  flout  the  sky     440 
With  his  victorious  banners.     Xow  a  troop 


330  CALVARY;  OR.         [bookvii. 

Of  shrouded  ghosts,  upon  a  signal  giv'n 
By  their  terrific  monarch,  start  to  sight, 
Each  with  a  torch  funereal  in  his  grasp, 
That  o'er  the  hall  dkTus'd  a  dying  light, 
Than  darkness'  self  more  horrible  :  The  walls 
Of  that  vast  cenotaph,  hung  round  with  spears 
Falchions  and  pole-axes  and  plumed  helms, 
Shcw'd  like  the  arm'ry  of  some  warlike  State  : 
There  every  mortal  weapon  might  he  seen,  450 
Each  implement  of  old  or  new  device, 
Which  savage  nature  or  inventive  art 
Furnish'd  to  arm  the  ruffian  hand  of  war, 
And  deal  to  man  the  life-destroyim?  stroke  : 
And  them  betwixt  at  intervals  were  plae'd 
The  crowned  skeletons  of  mighty  kings, 
Csesars  and  caliphs  and  barbarian  chiefs,  [shrink, 
Monsters,  whose    swords    had   made    creation 
And  frighted  peace  and  science  from  the  earth. 
Pondering  the  scene,  in  mute  amazement  rapt, 
The  lost  arch-angel  stood,  when  soon  the  voice 
Of  Death,  as  from   the  tombs    low  murmuring, 

thus 
Bespoke  attention — "  What  uncivil  cause, 
Prince  of  the  air,  provokes  thee  to  offend 
Against  the  peaceful  charter  of  these  realms 
By  voice   thus  rude    and  clam'rous  ?  Knpw'st 

thou  not 
I  reign  by  privilege,  though  son  not  slave 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         231 

Of  thee,  heav'n-exil'd  ?  Here  no  place  hast  thou, 
For  here  is  peace  ;  no  part  in  this  domain 
To  thee  and  to  thy  rebel  host  belongs  :         470 
They  in  the  flames  of  Tartarus,  but  we 
Dwell  with  the  silent  worm  :  The  pow'r  we  have 
O'er  man's  corruptible  and  mortal  part 
Ends  with  the  body  ;  here  the  bones  may  sleep. 
For  these  anatomies  disturb  us  not  : 
But  for  the  spark  unquenchable,  the  soul 
Immortal,  which  survives  the  fleeting'  breath, 
Of  that  we  take  no  charge  ;  that  must  abide 
In  other  regions,  its  appointed  lot 
Of  misery  or  bliss.  What  then  hath  Death  430 
To  do  with  Satan  ?  Can  the  son,  who  drew 
Existence  from  the  father,  quench  that  sp'rit 
Which  God  decreed  eternal  ?  Will  those  lircs 
Cease  at  my  word  ?  Hell  will  not  hear  my  voice, 
Nor  can  the  bowlings  of  the  infernal  pit 
Sinter  my  cars.     Ask  not  repose  of  me, 
Tormented  fiend  :  There  is  no  grave  for  sin, 
IS'o  sleep  for  Satan  !  fall'n  from  heav'n  thou  art; 
There  thou  hast  no    abode  ;  fall'n    now  from 

earth, 
Where    is    thy  lod^ino;  ?  Where,    but  in   these 

flames. 
Pass  on,  then,  in  thy  course,  nor  loiter  here, 
For  hell  expects  thee  :    Wert  thou  here  to  stay. 
Death  in  destroying  thee  himself  destroys." 


232  CALVARY;  OR,         [booktii. 

Whereto  th'  unwelcome  visitant  replied  : 
"  Inhospitable  pow'r  !  and  is  it  thus 
Thou  greet'st  a  father  in  his  extreme  need, 
Suppliant  for  leave  to  draw  a  moment's  breath 
In  thy  pale  presence,  'till  this  furious  blast, 
That  follow'd  me  from  earth,  shall  spend  its  rage 
And  cease  to  howl  through  the  profound  of  hell  ? 
If  in  thy  heartless  trunk  no  mein'ry  dwells 
Of  what  I  was,  Oh  !  teach  me  to  forget 
What  now  I  am,  and  make  my  senses  dull 
To  pain,  as  thine  to  gratitude  are  lost  : 
But  if  thy  mind  be  present  to  record 
My  fall  from  bliss,  will  it  not  also  serve 
To  put  thee  in  remembrance  how  that  Ml 
Bestow'd  on  thee  a  station  and  a  name  ? 
Had  I  not  fall'n  from  heav'n,  man  had  not  lost 
The  joys  of  Paradise,  immortal  joys,  510 

Till  I  destroy'd  them  ;  who  then  but  myself, 
Exil'd  from  God,  brought  death  into  the  world... 
Gave  thee  the  sepulchre  for  thy  domain, 
And  every  mortal  body  for  thy  prey  ? 
Whose  hand  but  Satan's,  thankless  as  thou  art, 
Plac'd  that  victorious  wreath  upon  thy  brow, 
Arm'd  thee  for  war  and  bade  thee  be  a  king  ? 
And  what  doth  Satan  now  demand  of  Death  ? 
What,  but  a  moment's  respite,  the  small  boon 
Of  hospitable  shelter,  where  to  lay  520 

3Iy  aching  head  and  rest  my  weary  wing  ? 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         233 

This  to  the  father  can  the  son  refuse  ? 

I  ask  no  more.     If  Christ,  from  whom  I  fly, 

Pursues  me  te  this  pit,  and  into  hell 

Descending  shall  repass  her  gloomy  gates 

Guarded  hy  sin,  that  barrier  lost,  farewell 

To  all  thy  greatness  !   Where  shall  be  thy  sting, 

0  Death,  and  where  thy  victory,  O  Grave  ? 
Then  to  have  harbor'd  Satan  shall  not  add 
One  feather  to  the  balance  of  thy  fate  ;  530 
All  must  be  lost  together  ;  I  to  flames 
Consign'd  ;  thou,  phantom,  into  air  dissolv'd." 

"No  more    of  this  vain  arguing,"    Death  re? 
ply'd  ; 
Ji  My  peace  and  my  repose  I  can  but  deal 
As  God  decrees,  and  as  he  wills  withhold  : 
Thus  wrangling  to  the  latest  hour  of  time, 
Nothing,  O  Satan,  could'st  thou  wring  from  me 
But  the  same  answer,  and  the  same  despair  : 

1  with  mortality  alone  confer  ; 

Thou  art  a  deathless  spirit :  If  my  pow'r     540 
Cannot  annihilate  the  soul  of  man, 
How  then  of  angel  ?  Guilty  thou  hast  been, 
Conscious  must  ever  be,  and  therefore  curst. 
Of  me  complaining  thou  condemn'st  thyself, 
The  righteous  ever  are  at  peace  with  Death  ; 
Thou  art  not  of  their  number.     Sp'rit  unbiest, 
Author  of  man's  revolt  and  all  things  ill, 
The  hell  which  thou  hast  peopled,  is  thine  own, 

G  % 


234  CALVARY;  OR,         [book  mi. 

Earth  thou  hast  made  a  ruin. ...men,  by  thee 
Perverted,  turn  to  monsters  ;  Heav'n  itself,  550 
Disturb'd  by  thy  rebellion,  for  a  while 
Suffer'd  convulsion,  and  her  thrones  besieg'd, 
Echo'd  the  din  of  battle  ;  the  fair  bloom 
Oi  paradise  was  blasted  by  thy  spells, 
And  man  driv'n  forth  to  till  th'  unthankful  earth, 
And  toil  and  sweat  for  a  precarious  meal, 
Degraded  from  his  origin,  at  length 
To  me  and  to  corruption  was  consign'd. 
These  were  thy  doings,  this  was  my  descent, 
And  my  inheritance  the  loathsome  worm,     560 
The  throsie  funereal,  and  this  yawning  gulph 
Impassable,  which  I  am  yet  to  thank, 
For  that  it  holds  thee  at  a  distance  from  me  : 
This  is  thy  bounty. — Look  upon  these  bones, 
Survey  this  dread  anatomy,  and  say 
If  son  so  fashion'd  owes  his  father  thanks  : 
Proportion'd  to  thy  goodness  I  accord 
My  gratitude  by  bidding  thee  avaunt  ;       [earth 
Hence  from  my  sight,  intruder  !  Thrust   from 
As  heretofore  from  heav'n,  and  tempest  torn, 
With  bruised  head  and  shatter'd,  flagging  wing, 
Hither  thou  com'st,  a  fugitive  from  Him, 
"W  bom  in  the  wilderness  for  forty  days 
Tempting  thou  didst  annoy  :  Hull,  doating  spirit! 
Blind  to  thine  own  destruction,  not  to  see 
God's  power  in  Christ,  nor  understand  that  he, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         235 

Who  foil'd  thy  cunning,  might  defy  thy  strength : 
Bat  neither  strength  nor  cunning  shall  prevail 
To  draw  me  forth  upon  a  losing  side, 
And  set  this  empire  on  adesp'rate  cast  :       580 
I  lack  presumption  to  oppose  that  power, 
Which  puts  hell's  monarch  to  inglorious  flight. 
What  shelter  canst  thou  find  hehind  a  shade, 
An  airy  phantom  ?  Such  thou  say'st  I  am... 
Such  let  me  be  !  That  phantom  will  not  tempt 
The  furious  hlast  of  God's  avenging  breath, 
Nor,  mov'd  to  pity  by  thy  treacherous  plaints, 
Tender  oblivion's  boon  to  soul  accurst  : 
Such  favor  when  thou  would' st  extort  from  Death, 
That  phantom  will  be  adamant  to  thee.         590 
Now  learn  a  truth  :  Christ  in  the  flesh  is  dead  ; 
Yet  long  I  cannot  hold  him  in  the  grave  ; 
His  body,  interdicted  to  the  worm, 
For  some  mysterious  purpose  is  reserv'd 
From  all  corruption  free,  and  sure  I  am 
He  will  not  leave  his  enemy  at  large 
In  this  obscure  domain,  where  sleep  the  souls 
Of  righteous  men  ;  fly  then,  whilst  yet  the  hour 
Serves  thee   for  flight — And   hark  !  the  angel 
trump  [curst !" 

Sounds  his   approach.     Now  tremble,  thou  ac- 

No  more ;  cncanopy'd  beneath  the  wings 
Of  mighty  cherubim,  with  sounding  trump 
And  joyful  chaunt  the  Lord  of  Life  came  on  : 


S36  CALVARY;  OR,         [bookvii. 

"Lift  up  your  heads,- '  the  heav'nly  chorus  sung, 
"  Lift  up  your  heads  ye  everlasting  gates, 
And  Christ  the  King  of  Glory  shall  come  in :" 
Bright  as  the  sun  his  presence  ;  darkness  fled 
Down  to  the  centre  ;  Satan  on  the  earth 
Fell  motionless  ;  Death  trembled  on  his  throne, 
Ami  call'd  his  shadowy  guards — they  with  loud 
shrieks  6 1 0 

Vanished  in  air,  whilst  from  the  gulph  profound 
Blue  lightnings  flash'd  and  deep-mouth'd  thun- 
ders roar'd, 
"When Christ,  with  eye  severe  on  Satan  turn'd, 
Bade  the  storm  cease,  and  thus  address'd  the 
fiend  :  [brink 

"  Well  art  thou  found,   thou  serpent,  on  the 
Of  thy  last  home,  this  horrible  abyss, 
For  thee  and  for  thine  impious  crew  prepared. 
Man,  from  his  God  by  thy  corruption  turn'd, 
Is  by  my  death  receiv'd  into  the  peace 
Of  his  offended  Maker,  and  if  faith  620 

Opens  his  way  to  heav'n  in  righteousness 
And  true  conversion,  Death  cannot  retain 
His  soul  in  darkness,  nor  thy  crafty  wiles 
Puzzle  his  path  and  damp  his  glowing  zeal ; 
But  thou  presumptuous,  who  hast  had  the  world 
To  range  at  will,  and  from  God's  altars  pluck'd 
Their  consecrated  honours,  falsely  view*d 
Those  spoils,  by  sufferance  yielded,  as  the  prize 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  337 

Of  thine  own  proper  victory.     Behold ! 
These  are  thy  triumphs  ;  in  this  pit  receive  630 
Thy  folly's  confutation,  and  the  doom 
Of  woe  eternal  on  thy  sin  denounc'd." 

He  said,  nor  other  answer  Satan  gave 
Than  one  deep    groan  rent  from   his   lab'ring 

breast. 
The  strong,  vindictive  Angel,  to  whose  charge 
The  key  of  that  infernal  pit  belong'd. 
Now  seiz'd  him   in  his  grasp,  and  from   the 

ground 
Lifting  his  pond'rous  bulk,  such  vigor  dwelt 
In  arm  celestial,  headlong  down  at  once, 
Down  lmrl'd  him  to  the  bottom  of  the  gulph, 
Then  follow'd  on  the  wing :  His  yelling  cries 
Death  heard,  whilst  terror  shiver'd  every  bone  : 
Not  so  the  choir  cherubic  ;  they  with  joy 
Beheld  Redemption's  triumph  in  the  fall 
Of  that  Great  Dragon,  enemy  of  man, 
That  ancient  Serpent,  now,  with  bruised  head 
And  sting-bereft,  hurl'd  down  into  the  pit : 
Whereat,  in  heav'nly  concert  they  begin 
To  raise  their  tuneful  voices,  and  sing  forth 
Praise  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  and  joyful  strain 
Of  gratulation  to  the  saints  redeem'd — 

"  Now  is  salvation    come    and  strength  and 

power... 
The  kingdom  of  our  God  and  of  his  Christ  : 


238  CALVARY;  OR,         [bookvii. 

Xow  is  that  railing  and  malignant  foe 

Cast  down  into  the  pit,  which  day  and  night 

Accus'd  our  righteous  brethren  to  their  God : 

Now  are  they  made  victorious  hy  the  hlood 

Of  the  Redeeming  Lamh,  and  in  the  word 

Of  Truth,  their  fearless  witness,  thro'  the  world 

Go  forth  against  the  anarchy  of  Sin,  660 

A  host  of  martyrs,  faithful  unto  death ; 

Therefore  rejoice,  ye  heav'ns,  and  ye  of  earth 

Inhabitants,  awake  to  joy  and  hail 

The  day-spring  of  Salvation  from  on  high." 

Satan,  meanwhile,  ten  thousand  fathoms  deep 
At  bottom  of  the  pit,  a  mangled  mass 
With  shatter'd  brain  and  broken  limbs  outspread, 
Lay  groaning  on  the  adamantine  rock  : 
Him  the  strong  angel  with  ethereal  touch    670 
Made  whole  in  form,  but  not  to  strength  restored, 
Rather  to  pain  and  the  acutcr  sense 
Of  shame  and  torment ;  hideous  was  the  glare 
Of  his  blood-streaming  eyes,  and  loud  he  yell'd 
For  very  agony,  whilst  on  his  limbs 
The  massy  fetters,  such  as  hell  alone 
Could  forge  in  hottest  sulphur,  were  infixed 
And  rivetted  in  the  perpetual  stone  : 
Upon  his  back  he  lay  extended,  huge, 
And  hideous  ruin  :  not  a  word  vouchsaf  Hi 
That  vengeful  angel,  but  with  quick  dispatch 
Ply'd  his  commission*d  task,  then  stretch'd  the 
wing 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  239 

And  upward  flew  ;  for  now  th'  infernal  cave 
Through  all  its  vast  circumference  had  sriv'a 
The  dreadful  warning,  and  began  to  close 
Its  rocky  ribs  upon  th'  imprison'd  fiend  : 
Fierce  and  more  fierce  as  it  approach'd  became 
The  flaming  concave  ;  thus  comprest,  the  vault, 
Red  as  metallic  furnace,  glow'd  intense 
With  heat,  that  had  the  hideous  den  been  less 
Than  adamant  it  had  become  a  flood,  690 

Or  Satan  other  than  he  was  in  sin 
And  arch-angelic  strength  pre-eminent, 
He  neither  could  have  suffer'd  nor  deserv'd. 
Pan  tin";  he  roii'd  in  streams  of  scalding  sweat, 
Parch'd  with  intolerable  thirst,  one  drop 
Of  water  then  to  cool  his  raging  tongue 
Had  been  a  boon  worth  all  his  golden  shrine. 
Vain  wish  !  for  now  the  pit  had  clos'd  its  mouth, 
Nor  other  lijyht  remain'd  than  what  the  glare 
Of  those  reverberating  fires  bcstow'd  :  700 

Then  all  the  dungeon  round  was  thick  beset 
With  horrid  faces,  threat'ning  as  they  glar'd 
Their  haggard  eyes  upon  him  ;  from  hell's  lake 
Flocking  they  came.whole  legions  of  thedaum'd, 
His  worshippers  on  earth,  sensual,  profane, 
Abominable  in  their  lives,  monsters  of  vice, 
Blood-stuin?d  murderers,  apostate  kings, 
And  crowned  tyrants  some,  tormented  now 
For  their  past  crimes  and  into  furies  turn'd, 


240  CALVARY;  OR,         [bookvii. 

Accusing  their  betrayer.     Curses  dire,         710 
Hissings  and  tauntings  now  from  every  side 
Assail'd  bis  ear  ;  on  him,  on  him  alone, 
From  Cain,  first  murderer,  to  Iscariot,  all, 
All  with  loud  voices  charg'd  on  him  their  gins, 
Their  agonies,  with  imprecations  urg'd 
For  treble  vengeance  on  his  head  accurst, 
Founder  of  hell,  sole  author  of  their  woe, 
And  enemy  avow'd  of  all  makind. 

Now  when  the  King  of  Terrors  had  perceiv'd 
The  pow'r  of  his  new  visitant,  and  saw         720 
Satan  engulph'd,  and  the  devouring  pit, 
Best  barrier  of  his  throne,  forever  cios'd, 
Descending  from  his  state  with  heart  abash'd, 
Conscious  that  pride  would  ill  befriend  him  now 
In  presence  of  his  conqueror,  at  the  feet 
Of  Christ  with  low  obeisance  he  put  off 
The  trophies  of  his  brow,  and  on  the  knee, 
Stooping  his  vassal  head,  low  homage  paid, 
And  suppliant  thus  his  humble  suit  preferr'd  j 

"  Immortal  King  !  all  glorious  and  all  good, 
At  whose  great  name  befits  that  every  knee 
In  heav'n  or  earth  or  in  these  realms  beneath 
Should  bend  adoring,  let  thy  will  prevail 
Here,  as  wherever  else  !  And  sure  I  am 
'Tis  not  my  power, but  thine  own  wond'rous  love? 
Consenting  to  the  deed,  hath  brought  thee  here 
In  pity  to  mankind  to  taste  the  cup 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  241 

Of  agony,  and  visit  these  sad  shades, 

Though  deathless  ;  thence  to  re-ascend,  as  soon 

Thou  shalt,  victorious  to  the  realms  of  light.  740 

I  know  thee  for  the  Christ  the  Son  of  God, 

Messias  of  the  prophets  long  foreseen, 

Yet  of  the  unbelieving  Jews  despis'd, 

Rejected  ;  for  thou  cam'st  not  in  the  pomp 

Of  temp'ral  majesty,  and  only  great 

In  patience,  in  humility,  in  love 

And  miracles  of  mercy.     At  thy  feet, 

This  head  uncrown'd  thus  stooping,  I  resign 

All  empire  ;  not  on  me  let  fall  thy  wrath 

As  on  that  bruised  serpent.     What  am  I  ?  750 

What  is  the  sword,  what  is  the  pestilence, 

And  all  my  host  of  mortal  ministers, 

But  servants  of  thy  providence,  a  scourge 

And  rod  of  vengeance,  wherewith  to  chastise 

Presumptuous,  guilty  pride  ?    Whose  hand  but 

mine 
Strikes  terror  to  the  atheist's  harden'd  heart  ? 
Who  plucks  the  tyrant  from  his  bloody  car 
And  rolls  him  in  the  dust  ?  or  at  a  blow 
Strangles  the  curse  in  the  blasphemer's  throat  ? 
Tf  on  the  martyr's  head  my  axe  descends,     760 
The  same  hand  plants  a  crown  of  glory  there  ; 
And  if  in  my  dark  caves  the  righteous  sleep, 
Peaceful  they  sleep  :  I  break  not  their  repose, 
For  silence  dwells  with  me,  and  night  and  rest, 

II  2 


243  CALVARY;  OR,         [boqkvii. 

Behold  the  key  inviolate  that  guards 

Their  hallow'd  slumbers  ;  never  did  I  yield, 

Though  oft  solicited,  this  sacred  pledge 

To  Satan  or  his  sin-defiled  crew  ; 

Faithful  I've  kept  it  ever.. ..faithful  now 

To  thee  their  Saviour  I  resign  my  charge."  770 

This  said,  the  golden  badge  of  his  command, 
Rich  and  of  heav'nly  workmanship,  with  gems 
Of  azure,  green,  and  purple  thick  emboss'd, 
Humbly  he  laid  at  the  Redeemer's  feet : 
He  to  the  zeal  of  Gabriel  straight  consign'd 
Th'  enlargement  of  those  sp'rits  to   bliss  pre- 
ferred, 
Fit  minister  for  office  so  benign  : 
Whereat  he  bade  sound  forth  the  signal  trump 
Of  the  First  Resurrection,  heard  of  none 
Save  of  those  holy  saints,  elect  of  God,  780 

Martyrs  and  prophets,  call'd^to  live  with  Christ 
In  antecedent  glory,  till  the  day 
Of  gen'ral  Resurrection  shall  awake 
And  summon  into  judgment  all  mankind. 
Swift  hied  that  friendly  angel  on  the  wing, 
Swifter,  for  that,  on  gracious  errand  sent, 
Joy  urg'd  him  to  put  forth  his  utmost  speed  ; 
Meanwhile,  the  heav'nly  Yisitant  of  Death 
Upon  that  ghastly  Vision  turn'd  his  eyes, 
And  thus,  in  accent  mild,  addressed  the  shade  : 

"  That  I  came  down  from  heav-n  and  am  the 
Christ, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHMST.         243 

Higlitly,  O  Death,   thou  hast   pronounc'd  ;  vet 

hei  3 
1  come  not  to  destroy  thy  power  at  once, 
Ditto  set  free  the  saints  thou  hold'st  in  thrall, 
And  call  them  to  my  peace  ;  but  ev°n  of  these, 
Part  till  my  second  coming  must  abide  : 
Of  thee  and  all  tilings  of  corruption  bred 
The  term  is  ilx'd  ;  God  must  be  all  in  all  : 
But  time,  as  man  computes,  hath  yet  to  roll 
Through  numerous  ages  ere  the  final  trump  800 
Shall  sound  thy  knell.     I  brought  not  upon  earth 
Peace,  but  the  sword  ;  the  gospel  I  have  preach'd 
Man  will  corrupt,  misconstrue  and  pervert  ; 
Nor  shall  my  Church   be  only   drench- d   with 

blood 
Of  its  own  martyrs — zealots  shall  arise, 
Aliens  to  my  humility  and  peace, 
With  more  than  pagan  enmity  enflam'd 
Each  against  other  ;  then  shall  ruthless  war 
And  persecution,  and  fierce  civil  rage 
Ravage  the  Christian  world  ;  intol'rant  pride, 
Usurping  pow'r  infallible,  shall  send 
Its  heralds  forth  with  cursing   in  their  mouths, 
And  fetters  for  man's  conseienc e  in  their  hands  ; 
They  in  the  battle's  front  shall  plant  the  cross, 
And  bid  the  unconverted  nations  kneel 
Under  their  conq>ring  standard,  and  adopt 
The  creed  of  murderers,  who,  in  the  place 


844*  CALVARY;  ^c.  [bookvii. 

Of  the  pure  bond  of  charity,  present 
A  forged  scroll  blurr'd  and  defac'd  with  lies, 
And  impiously  inscribe  it  with  my  name.     820 
These  are  religion's  traitors,  and  from  them 
Ad  ample  harvest  shalt  thou  reap,  O  Death  ; 
Suffice  it  thee  to  know  that  for  a  while 
Thoa  shalt  be  spar'd  :   And  now  no  more  :  Be- 
hold ! 
Gabriel  leads  on  the  congregated  Saints. 
Vanish,  pale  phantom !  Give  the  ranSom'd  place.'5 


end  of  The  seventh  book. 


CALVARY; 


OR, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST. 


BOOK  VIII. 


ARGU3IENT    OF    THE    EIGHTH    BOOK. 


Christ,  having  closed  his  interview  with  Death,  prepares  to  receive  the 
Saints  of  the  First  Resurrection,  now  approaching,  under  the  conduct 
of  the  angel  Gabriel,  and  having  ascended  a  mount  in  the  midst  of  the 
congregation,  appears  to  them  in  glory.  They  pay  homage  to  their 
Redeemer  in  a  hymn  of  praise  and  thanksgiving.  He  addresses  them 
in  reply,  and  assures  them  of  the  blessings  of  immortal  life  bestowed 
upon  them  by  the  Father  as  the  reward  of  their  righteousness.  The 
patriarch  Abraham  enters  into  conference  with  Christ,  in  the  conclusion 
of  which  the  Saviour  of  the  world  shews  him,  in  the  glorious  vision  of 
the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  the  holy  city,  as  described  in  the  Apocalypse. 
When  this  beatific  vision  is  passed  away,  Christ  re-ascends  to  earth  in 
view  of  the  whole  assembly  of  Saints.  The  angel  Gabriel,  who  is  left 
behind,  addresses  them  from  the  mount,  and  expounds  the  purposes  of 
the  Saviour's  resurrection  from  the  dead  and  return  to  earth.  Moses  re- 
capitulates the  events  of  his  life,  instances  the  frequent  rebellions  of  the 
Lord's  unfaithful  people,  and  laments  their  future  impenitence  and  in- 
credulity. Gabriel  replies,  and,  from  the  nature  of  man's  free  will,  ex- 
plains the  origin  and  necessity  of  evil,  from  which  he  deduces  the  ben- 
efits of  Christ's  death  and  redemption.  And  now  the  spirit  of  God  de- 
cending  on  the  hearts  of  the  righteous,  inspires  them  with  all  under- 
standing and  knowledge,  fitted  to  their  happy  condition.  A  Paradise 
arises  within  the  regions  of  Death  ;  Gabriel  addresses  them  for  the  last 
time,  and  upon  his  departure  the  Poem  concludes. 


CALVARY,  &c. 


BOOK  VIII. 


THE  RESURRECTION  FROM  THE  DEAD. 

IN  0\V  had  the  Saviour  by  the  word  of  powrr 
Wafted  the  magic  phantom  into  air, 
And  all  the  horrors  of  the  scene  dispelled  : 
Swift  as  the  stroke  of  his  own  winged  dart, 
Or  flitting  shadows  by  the  moon-beam  chas'd, 
Death  on  the  instant  vanish'd  :  What  hadseem'd 
A  citadel  of  proud  and  martial  port, 
With  bastions  fene'd,  and  pow'rs  impregnable 
Of  adamant  compos'd  and  lofty  dome 
Covering  the  throne  imperial,  now  was  air  ;   10 
And,  far  as  eye  could  reach,  a  level  plain, 
In  the  interminable  horizon  lost, 
Unfolded  its  vast  champaign  to  the  view,   [rays, 
Darkness,  twin-born  with  Death,  had  fled  ;  the 
Thrit  from  the    Saviour's   sun-crown'd  temples 

beam'd, 
With  dazzling  lustre  hrighten'd  all  the  scene. 
There,  just  emerging  to  the  distant  view, 
And  glitt'ring  white,  a  multitude  appeared, 
Strctch'd  east  and  west  in  orderly  array. 


248  CALVARY;  OB,         [bookvih. 

Swift  marching  underneath  the  mighty  wings 
Of  the  protecting  angel,  who  in  air 
Soar'd  imminent,  and  with  the  broad  expanse 
From  flank  to  flank  envelop'd  all  the  host : 
He  with  the  blast  of  the  awak'ning  trump 
Gave  note  of  their  advance.     In  the  mid-plain 
There  was  a  mount ;  thither  the  Saviour  hied 
With  his  cherubic  guard,  and  there  in  view 
Of  the  assembled  myriads  stood  sublime. 
The  saints  in  order  form'd  themselves  around, 
Orb  within  orh,  each  in  his  proper  sphere      30 
Instinctively  arrang'd  ;  then  all  at  once, 
As  by  one  soul  inspir'd,  with  bended  knee 
And  forehead  prostrate  on  the  earth,  they  paid 
Joint  homage  and  ador'd.     Oh  !  who  shall  dare 
With  bold  conjecture  to  compute  the  list 
Of  that  blest  multitude,  or  say,  who  first, 
Who  last,  receiv'd  the  glorious  All-hail, 
Ye  blessed  of  my  Father  ?  Yet  perchance, 
So  warranted  by  scripture,  and  so  taught 
By  moral  sage  experience,  we  may  doubt        4Q 
If  many  rich,  if  many  great  or  learn'd 
Were  of  that  righteous  company  ;  be  sure 
The  lover  of  this  world  had  there  no  place... 
He  barter'd  it  for  gold.. .he  pass*d  it  off 
To  Belial  for  a  perishable  toy... 
He  sold  it  to  a  wanton  :  There  the  proud 
Were  brought  down,   and  the   meek  and  lowly 
rais'd  : 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  249 

The  conq'ror  not  of  others  but  himself 
There  found  pre-eminence  :  All  joy  to  him, 
Who  rear'd  the  orphan,  dry'd  the  widow's  tears. 
And  sought  affliction  in  her  secret  haunts, 
Not  for  the  praise  of  men  ;  and  may  not  we, 
Born  in  an  age  when  mild  philanthropy 
Hath  taught  a  better  lesson  to  the  heart— 
May  not  we  foster  a  kind  hope  that  some 
Of  Pagan  name  were  call'd,  who,  thro'  the  maze 
Of  dark  Idolatry,  took  Reason's  clue, 
And  found  a  mental  avenue  to  God  ? 
Here  with  the  father  of  the  faithful  stood 
A  host  of  patriarchs,  prophets,  judges,  saints  :  60 
Noah,  who  perfect  in  the  time  of  wrath 
And  righteous  found,  was  left  unto  the  earth 
A  remnant  when  the  waters  fell  from  hcav'n, 
And  was  in  covenant  with  the  Most  High 
That  man  no  more  should  perish  by  the  flood  : 
Moses,  the  faithful  servant  of  the  Lord, 
Meekest,  though  mightiest,  of  the  sons  of  men, 
And  glorious  in  the  sight  of  dreadful  kings  : 
Joshua,  th'  avenger  of  th'  elect  of  God, 
Whose  voice  upon  Mount  Gibeon  staid  the  sun 
In  the  mid-heav'n,  and  bade  the  moon  stand  still 
(n  Ajalon's  dark  vale,  till  Israel  ceas'd 
From  slaughter  and  the  conq'ring  sword  was 

sheath'd  : 
Here  Samuel,  in  his  linen  cphod  girt, 

I  a 


250  CALVARY;  OR,  [bookyiii. 

Thrice  call'd  of  God,  amid  the  foremost  stood : 
He,  who  with   Baal's  priests  contending,  rear'd 
His  rival  altars  and  brought  fire  from  heav'n 
To  vindicate  his  God  :  The  Psalmist  King, 
And  he  at  whose  sick  prav'r  the  sun  went  hack, 
And  he,  surnam'd  the  Good  :  Uaniel  the  seer, 
And  they,  who  in  the  furnace  walk'd  unhurt  ; 
All  in  the  sacred  page  recorded  just 
And  faithful  servants  of  the  living  God  : 
For  who  ean  douht  the  holy  word  of  truth 
Attesting  their  salvation  ?  Yet  there  is 
One,  who,  by  promise,  sacredly  assur'd 
Of  bliss  immediate,  heard  the  glorious  call 
Whilst  hanging  on  the  cross,  by  penitence 
And  faith  obtained  from  the  all-gracious  lips 
Of  God's  own  Son,  expiring  at  his  side.  90 

Hail,  holy  congregation,  elder-born 
Of  righteousness  and  first-fruits  of  the  ffrave. 
Elect  unto  salvation  !  Hail,  blest  saints, 
Now  cloth'd  in  white  robes,  as  in  your  lives 
With  purity,  sound  forth  your  praise  to  God 
And  to  the  Lamb,  in  whose  blood  ye  are  wash'd ; 
Wave  high  your  brandies  of  victorious  palm, 
Hymning  the  strain,  which  he  in  Patmos  heard, 
What  time  the  glorious  vision  was  reveai'd. 
"  Hail,  First  and  Last !"  the  immortal  chorus 
sung,  100 

t;  Of  all  things  the  beginning  and  the  end  ; 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         251 

For  thou  art  he,  who.  livest  and  wast  dead, 
And  lo  !  thou  art  alive  for  evermore, 
And  hold'st  in  hand  of  hell  and  death  the  keys, 
Salvation  to  our  God  and  to  the  Lamb 
At  his  right  hand,  who  sitteth  on  the  throne  ; 
Blessing  and  glory,  wisdom,  honor,  pow'r, 
Might  and  thanksgiving  evermore  to  God 
And  to  his  Christ  !  Father,  we  give  thee  thanks, 
Lord  God,  who  wast,  and  art,  and  art  to  come, 
For  this  thy  mighty  pow'r  in  us  fulfill'd. 
Now  are  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  become 
The  kingdoms  of  our  Lord  and  of  his  Christ, 
And  he  shall  reign  forever  ;  now  thy  wrath 
On  the  rebellious  nations  is  let  loose  ; 
Now  is  the  first  call  of  the  sleeping  saints, 
And  all  thy  servants  faithful  unto  death 
Thou  hast  rewarded  with  eternal  bliss. 
Henceforth  forever  blessed  are  the  dead, 
Thus  dying  in  the  Lord,  for  they  shall  rest  ISO 
From  labour,  and  their  good  works  are  not  lost !" 

Their  hymn  perform'd,  the  whole  redeemed 
host, 
With  hands  uplifted  and  all  eyes  direct 
Upon  the  glorious  Preseuce,  bent  the  knee 
Silent,  whilst  thus  the  Lord  of  Mercy  spake  : 

"  Ye  blessed  of  my  Father,  prophets,  saints 
And  martyrs  ;  ye  of  Abraham's  faithful  stock. 
And  ye,  though  wild  by  nature,  grafted  in 


&5S  CALVARY;  OR,        [bookvih. 

Upon  the  parent  tree,  and  bearing  fruits 
To  life  eternal,  welcome  to  my  peace  !  130 

Now  are  your  watchings  and  your  labours  past... 
Your  tribulations,  self-denials,  pains 
And  mournings  recompens'd ;  never  again 
Shall  ye  know  thirst  or  hunger,  nor  the  sun 
Light  you  by  day*  nor  yet  by  night  the  moon  ; 
For  ye  sliail  dwell  before  the  throne  of  God, 
And  I  will  feed  you  :  I  will  lead  you  forth 
To  living  founts,  and  wipe  away  all  tears. 
Come,  enter  ye  into  your  Master's  joy*— 
Come,  for  the  throne  awaits  you  ;  take  the  crown 
Of  glory.. ktake  the  kingdom  from  all  time 
For  you  prepar'd... possess  your  happy  rights, 
The  earnings  of  your  charity  and  love  : 
For  I  was  hungcr'd  and  ye  gave  me  meat, 
Thirsty  I  was  and  ye  assuag'd  my  thirst, 
I  was  a  stranger  and  ye  took  me  in, 
Naked  ye  cloth'd  me,  sick  ye  visited, 
I  was  in  prison  and  ye  came  unto  me." 

"  When,  Lord !"  the  righteous  humbly  inter* 
pos'd, 
"  When  were  these  charities  by  us  pcrform'd  ? 
How  have  we  merited  this  praise  of  thee, 
Whom  in  the  flesh  we  knew  not  ?  Tell  us,  Lord, 
When  saw  we  thee  an  hungered  and  gave  food  ? 
AVhen  thirsty  and  gave  drink  ?  a  stranger  when 
And  took  thee  in,  naked  and  clothed  thee  ; 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         s&8 

When  saw  we  thee  in  sickness  or  in  prison 
And  came  unto  thee  ?  When  didst  thou  endure 
These  hard  necessities,  or  we  relieve  ?" 

Whereto  the  Lord  reply'd  :  "  Truly  ye  say 
Me  in  the  flesh  ye  knew  not,  yet  in  sp'rit     160 
Ye  knew  mc,  for  my  law  was  in  your  hearts  ; 
And  what  to  these  my  brethren  ye  have  done. 
Or  to  the  least  of  these,  ye  did  to  me, 
Patron  of  mercy  and  the  friend  of  man, 
To  every  one,  but  not  to  all  alike, 
Some  talent  is  in  trust,  the  loan  of  heav'n, 
To  husband  as  he  may  ;  and  he  who  spares 
From  his  imparted  fund  wherewith  to  help 
His  neighbor's  scantier  dole,  improves  the  loan 
And  makes  his  Lord  his  debtor.     First  and  last, 
Ere  Abraham  was,  I  am.     Open  your  ears  ! 
Hear,  mark,  and  understand  :  The  world  by  sin 
Original  had  fali'n  ofl*  from  God  ; 
3Ian  was  become  corrupt,  idolatrous, 
Abominable  :  Satan  reign'd  on  earth. 
Ye  are  of  various  ages  ;  all  have  slept, 
And  some  from  earliest  times  or  e'er  the  flood 
Swallow'd  the  nations,  yet  with  one  accord 
All  in  your  several  periods  have  bewail'd 
Degenerated  man  :  Noah  can  tell  180 

Mow  all  the  earth  with  violence  was  fill'd, 
Or  e'er  the  fountains  of  the  vasty  deep 
Were  broken  up  :  Moses  can  well  declare 


254  CALVARY;  OR,        [bookviii. 

How  bard  and  to  rebellion  prone  tbe  hearts 
Of  tbose  whom  he  led  forth  :  Samuel  beheld 
A  stiff-neek'd  generation  spurn  the  yoke 
And  kick  against  their  God  ;  but  vain  his  voice, 
Vain  all  the  prophets'  voices,  who  foretold 
My  coming,  without  whom  the  world  were  lost. 
Now  is  salvation  come  ;  I've  drank  the  cup  190 
Of  bitterness,  and  died  the  death  for  man  : 
My  peace  I*ve  left  on  earth  ;  the  living  world, 
They  have  the  word  of  truth,  and  by  that  word 
Through  faith  they  shall  be  sav'd  ;  from   them 

I  came 
To  visit  these  dark  regions,  and  redeem 
The  saints  who  slept  ;  behold  !  ye  are  alive  : 
Death  hath  no  more  dominion  ;  Satan,  chain'd 
For  ages,  shall  abide  his  time  to  come  : 
Meanwhile  in  glory  ye  shall  dwell  with  me  ; 
By  resurrection  purchased  with  my  blood      200 
Ye  are  tbe  first-fruits  of  immortal  life." 

Now  Abraham,  father  of  the  faithful  band, 
And  first  in  station  nearest  to  the  mount, 
His  eyes  uplifted  to  the  face  divine 
Of  the  effulgent  Virtue,  and  thus  spake : 

c;  Yet  once  more,  as  aforetime  in  the  days 
Of  Sodom,  suffer  me  to  plead  for  man, 
And  ask  of  thee  his  Saviour  if  these  few, 
Few  not  in  numbers,  yet  for  heav'n  too  few 
And  for  Heav'n's  mercy,  seeing  there  are  past 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHEIST.         Z55 

So  many  many  ages  of  the  world, 
Are  all  that  shall  be  sav'd  ?  Alas,  for  man ! 
If  this  be  the  whole  remnant,  all  the  stock 
Cull'd  from  so  many  myriads  for  God's  fold. 
Where  are  the  nations  vanish'd  ?   Where  are  the 

hosts, 
That  sea,  earth,  flood  and  fire  have  swallow'd  up  ? 
Can  hell  contain  them?  Can  devouring  Death 
Find  stomach  for  them  all  ?  Did  God  make  man 
For  death  and  hell,  or  thou  endure  the  cross 
Only  for  us  ?  Are  all  the  righteous  shrunk  ££0 
To  this  small  measure  ?   And,  if  these  be  all, 
Are  they  not  yet  enough  to  save  the  rest, 
If  heav'nly  mercy  listen  to  our  prayer  ? 
May  not  our  righteousness  so  save  a  world 
From  wrath,  as  once  the  righteousness  of  five 
Had  sav'd  a  guilty  city  from  its  fate  ?" 

To  him  the  Lord  of  Mercy  :  ';  I  have  said 
Ye  are  the  first  fruits  by  my  blood  obtained, 
The  earnest  of  redemption  :  I  have  bruis'd, 
Xot  crush'd  the  Serpent's  head  ;  he  shall  arise 
Out  of  the  pit  once  more  to  vex  the  earth- 
Death,  the  last  enemy,  is  not  destroyed, 
Yet  is  his  sceptre  shorten'd,  and  tbe  key 
That  opens  into  life,  now  in  those  hands, 
Where  mercy  best  can  place  it  for,  man's  good  : 
Thus  of  all  pow'r  though  Death  is  not  bereft, 
Yet  I  have  shook  his  throne,  with  inroad  deep 


236  CALVARY;  OR,        [bogkviii. 

Pierc'd    his    dark    realm,  and  you   redeeming 

thence, 
Made  tenantless  your  graves,  his  strongest  holds. 
With  you  when  from  this  depth  I  reascend,  240 
And  through  heav'n's    golden  portal   lead  my 

host 
Of  Saints  high-waving  these  victorious  palms, 
Your  white  rohes  glitt'ringin  God's  starry  courts, 
Great  sure  will  he  the  triumph,  loud  tli'  acclaim, 
When  all  my  Father's  Angels  shall  sound  forth 
Their  joyful  hallelujahs  round  his  throne. 
Enough  for  victory  hath  been  achiev'd  ; 
Destruction  is  reserved  to  that  great  day, 
When  the  compelling  angel  shall  go  forth 
To  gather  every  atom  of  man's  dust,  250 

Which  the  se;?s  eover,  or  the  earth  contains  : 
Then  shall  all  souls  be  judg'd ;  if  Abraham  then. 
When  of  nil  hearts  the  secrets  shall  be  known. 
Then  if  the  friend  of  God  hath  aught  to  urge 
In  mitigation  of  man's  guilt,  be  sure, 
Ere  justice  strike,  mercy  will  hear  the  plea. 
Of  this  no  more.     The  seasons  and  the  times 
Are  with  the  Father  :  the  dread  hour  draws  on. 
But  I  must  first  re-visit  those  on  earth 
Whom  1  have  left  in  sorrow  ;  for  their  sakes 
T  must  again  submit  me  to  the  flesh, 
Ami  by  the  evidence  of  sense  confirm 
My  promis'd  resurrection  ;  this  perform'd, 


, 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  25? 

And  immortality  reveal'd  to  man, 

By  faith  made  sure,  my  gospel  shall  go  forth  ? 

My  office  then  the  Comforter  will  take  ; 

The  weak  he  shall  make  strong,  the  foolish  wise3 

And  hy  the  mouths  of  sucklings  and  of  Tmbes 

He  shall  confound  the  wisdom  of  the  world, 

And  o'er  the  gates  of  hell  erect  my  Church." 

When  thus  the  Patriarch,   glowing  still  with 
zeal 
For  man's  salvation,  further  question  urg'd : 

f'  Lord,  will  not  then  the  faithless  world  be- 
lieve, 
When  thou  return'stwith  glory?  From  the  dead 
When  they  behold  thee  visible  on  earth 
And  thence  to  heav'n  ascending,  can  they  doubt? 
Such  revelation  can  their  eyes  resist — 
Their  ears  such  truthrecorded?  Shall  there  then 
Be  left  a  Gentile  idol  upon  earth 
To  rival  Israel's  God  ?  Shall  there  not  be     280 
One  Shepherd  and  one  fold  for  ail  mankind... 
One  faith.. .one  baptism. ..one  Lord  and  Christ  ? 
But  I  perhaps  too  bold  offend  thine  ear 
With  my  rude  converse  ;  Lord,  if  so,  command 
My  tongue  to  silence ;  yet  not  in  thy  wrath, 
Not  in  thy  wrath,  O  Lord,  reprove  my  zeal." 
Whereto  the  Saviour  mildly  thus  reply'd  : 
w  O  Abraham,  in  whose  soul  compassion  glows 
And  love,  that  burns  with  zeal  for  all  thy  sons? 

K  % 


258  CALVARY;  OR,        [book  vm. 

Nor  for  thy  sons  alone,  but  the  whole  world,  290 
Whose  advocate  thou  art,  think  not  the  tongue, 
That  speaks  for  mercy,  can  offend  my  ear  : 
Yet  what  thy  zeal  anticipates  in  time 
Is  distant  far  ;  ages  must  roil  betwixt 
Thy  hope  and  its  completion  ;  tbreat'ning  clouds 
Low'r  on  the  glorious  prospect ;  seas  of  blood 
Must  first  be  pass'd  ;  long  pilgrimage  and  sad 
My  martyrs  have  to  make  through  valleys  dark, 
Where  ign'ranee  shades  the  sun,  through  fright- 
ful haunts, 
Where  superstition  pictures  out  the  scene  300 
In  monstrous  forms,  and  worships  what  it  dreads. 
Painful  their  march  and  round  beset  with  snares  ; 
Here  treach'ry  lurks. ..there  persecution  flames; 
Before  them  infidelity... .behind 
Reproach  and  slander  and  the  roar  of  tongues 
Contentious,  urging  them  to  turn  from  God 
And  waste  their  nobler  zeal  in  vain  dispute. 
Thus,  step  by  step,  in  righteousness  and  faith 
Arm'd  at  all  points,  my  servants  militant 
Shall  win  their  way,  and  what  they  earn  enjoy. 
Lowly  and  meek  I  came  into  the  world, 
And  meek  and  lowly  I  shall  now  return ; 
Not  with  that  glory  rising  from  the  grave. 
Which  for  my  second  coming  is  reserv'd, 
But  in  that  mortal  body  which  they  pierc'd, 
Shewing  my  wounds  ;  not  with  the  proud  display 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         259 

Of  one  who  courts  the  voice  of  public  fame, 
But  communing  apart  with  those  I  left 
To  be  my  witnesses,  that  so  through  them 
Men  may  be  taught  by  reason  to  discern        320 
Not  what  they  must,  but  what  they  should  be- 
lieve ; 
Not  by  the  evidence  of  sense  to  feel, 
But  by  the  mind's  conviction  to  perceive 
Truth  in  its  argument,  not  act ;  and  build 
On  reason,  not  necessity,  their  faith, 
And  on  their  faith  and  their  good  works   their 

hope. 
God  will  not  always  struggle  with  mankind — 
Heap  proof  on  proof  till  incredulity 
Though  blind  must  see,  tho'  deaf  of  force  must 

hear ; 
He  will  not  bring  his  heav'n  upon  the  earth,  330 
Rather  will  lead  man's  heart  fromearthly  things 
To  reach  at  heav'niy  joys  ;  the  railing  Jews 
"Who  fix'd  me  to  the  cross,  bade  me  come  down, 
And  with  the  sign  of  pow'r  dispel  their  doubts  : 
So  had  I  frustrated  all  faith  at  once, 
And  with  all  faith  all  virtue :  I  was  dumb... 
I  open'd  not  my  mouth  to  their  reproach... 
I  stirr'd  not  from  the  cross.. .1  died  the  death, 
Nor  to  my  rescue  brought  one  angel  down, 
Though  legions  waited  to  obey  my  call.        340 
And  now  none  other  sign  will  I  vouchsafe 


£G0  CALVA&Y;  Oil,       [bookviii. 

But  of  tlie  prophet  Jonas  j  for  as  he 
From  out  the  belly  of  the  whale  emerged 
On  the  third  day,  so  I  from  out  the  tomb, 
In  the  same  body,  will  come  forth  on  earth 
With  the  third  morning's  dawn  ;  thus  shall  the 

word 
Of  prophecy  by  my  disciples  heard, 
Kot  uiiderstoood*  be  perfected  in  me, 
And  I  will  breathe  my  sp'rit  into  their  hearts 
To  comprehend  all  scriptures,  and  to  preach  350 
Me  crucified  ;  nor  shall  there  be  a  dearth 
Of  witnesses  to  publish  and  attest 
My  resurrection  ;  hundreds  shall  behold 
My  substance  in  the  flesh,  and  he  that  doubts 
Shall  touch  me  and  believe.     More  to  expound 
There  needs  not  ;  this  in  all  your  ears  aloud 
I  now  promulgate,  that  when  I  am  gone 
Ye  may  abide  the  interim  in  peace, 
By  terror  or  impatience  undisturbed  I 
And  now  not  many  are  the  days  to  pas?,      360 
Ere  to  the  heav'n  of  heav'n's  I  shall  ascend, 
And  there  in  blest  communion  with  my  saints* 
Made  perfect  after  death,  for  ever  dwell 
At  the  right  hand  of  pow'r  ;  meanwhile  the  seed 
"Which  I  have  sown,  though  of  all  grains  the  least, 
Yet  water'd  by  the  comforter  shall  grow 
Of  herbs  the  greatest,  and  become  a  tree, 
\Vithin  whose  branches  all  the  birds  of  air 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  26  i 

Shall  come  and  lodge;  so  shall  my  kingdom  rise 
From  mean  beginning  into  mighty  growth,  370 
A  still  small  current,  spreading  as  it  goes  ; 
For  in  the  arm  of  man  I  place  no  strength, 
No?  in  the  battle's  thunder  can  be  heard     [ear, 
His  voice  that  preaclieth  peace  ;  to    storm  the 
Like  those  loud  heathen  orators,  who  shake 
The  forum  with  their  eloquence,  ill  suits 
The  servants  of  a  master  little  vers'd 
In  this  world's  wisdom,  and  not  vain  of  speech  : 
In  love,  in  calm  persuasion,  and  in  peace, 
Mv  gospel  I  have  planted  :   Woe  to  them,    380 
Who  in  the  place  of  these  sweet  fruits  provoke 
The  baneful  growth  of  persecution,  strife, 
And  discord  in  my  Church,  opening  my  wounds 
Unhcal'd,  and  crucifying  me  afresh."     [thanks 
To  him  the  Patriarch  :  "  Lord,  we  give  thee 
For  that  thou  hast  imparted  to  thy  saints 
These  tidings  of  great  joy,  though  distant  far, 
And  through  such  clouds  of  sorrow  dimly  seen  ; 
And  sure  we  are  thy  gospel  shall  prevail, 
Yet  much  do  we  lament  for  what  thy  saints  390 
And  martyrs  have  to  suffer  upon  earth, 
Foii'dby  that  first  deceiver  of  mankind,  [chain'd, 
Who,  though  now  bruis'd,    and  for  awhile   en- 
Shall  yet  come  forth  to  vex  thy  holy  Church, 
To  conjure  up  false  prophets,  and  pervert 
Thy  followers,  who  are  taught  to  live  in  peace 


262  CALVARY;  OR,        [bookviii. 

And  charity  with  all  men  :  But  we  know 
God  did  not  huild  this  goodly  frame  of  things 
For  Satan  to  destroy,  and  he  and  Death  [home, 
Shall  have   an   end :  Heav'n  is  man's    natural 
And  righteousness  the  impulse  of  his  heart ; 
Nor  will  God  fail  his  promise,  that  in  me 
And  in  my  seed  the  whole  world  shall  be  blest  : 
Ah  !  when  shall  1  behold  that  promised  day  ? 
"When  shall  I  see  the  warring  world  at  peace  ? 
When  shall  my  Israel,  scatter'd  o'er  the  earth 
And  straggling  wide,  hear  their  good  Shepherd's 

call, 
And  come  into  his  fold  ?  Sure  that  blest  voice, 
That  giorious  vision  would  be  heav'n  itself." 

"  That  vision  thou  glial  t  see,"  the  Lord  reply'd, 
"  And  smii'd  all-gracious  on  th'  enraptur'd  Saint, 
From  this  prospective  mount  with  purged  eye, 
That  through  the  lengthening  tract  of  time  dis- 
cerns 
Futurity  remote,  thou  shalt  behold 
Th'  Apocalypse,  which  to  no  living  eye, 
Save  of  my  servant  John,  I  shall  disclose  : 
But  know  ere  this  blest  period  shall  arrive, 
The  elements  must  melt  with  fervent  heat, 
And  earth  and  sea  and  heav'n  must  pass  away, 
Darkness  and  sin  and  death  shall  be  no  more, 
And  a  new  world  shine  forth.     Ascend  the  mount, 
And  eastward  turning  tell  me  what  thou  seest ;" 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         263 

k>  I  see,"  the  Patriarch  cry'd,  "  an  heav'n  and 

earth... 
Earth  without  sea,  and  heav'n  without  a  cloud, 
All  bright   and   glist'ning  from  the  Maker's 

hands : 
I  see  descending  from  the  throne  of  God 
Jerusalem  the  Holy  City,  new, 
Deck'd  like  a  bride  for  her  celestial  spouse  : 
Order,  and  grace,  and  symmetry  conspire 
In  all  her  parts,  and  with  the  rich  display     430 
Of  vivid  gems  make  glorious  her  attire  : 
To  the  four  points  of  heav'n  in  equal  span 
She  stretches  out  her  many-colour'd  walls, 
Celestial  masonry,  whose  meanest  stone, 
More  rare  and  precious  than  the  brightest  gem 
Of  earthly  diadems,  transparent  flames, 
From  the  foundations  to  the  topmost  cope 
Of  mural  battlement  one  dazzling  blaze 
Of  glorious  jewelry,  and  then  amidst 
On  every  flank  quadrangular  three  gates,      440 
Each  of  an  orient  pearl,  to  our  twelve  tribes, 
By  number  and  by  name  appropriate, 
Stand  open,  guarded  by  cherubic  watch  ; 
Through  whose  unfolded  portals  I  descry 
A  city  all  of  purest  gold,  and  clear 
As  the  unclouded  crystal  on  whose  towers 
God's  all-suflicient  glory  sheds  a  flood 
Of  radiance  brighter  than  the  borrow 'd  beam 


234  CALVA11Y;0R,  [bookviu. 

Of  shadowy  moon  or  sun  oft  wrapt  in  clouds, 
Making  alternate  night  and  day  on  earth  :      450 
But  night  is  here  unknown  ;  day    needeth  not 
To  rest  in  darkness,  nor  the  eye  in  sleep  ; 
Nor  temple  here  for  worship  may  he  found, 
The  ever-present  Deity  demands 
No  house  of  pray'r  ;  in  ev'ry  heart  is  built 
His  altar — every  voice  records  his  praise, 
And  every  saint  his  minister  and  priest. 
Through  the  mid-street  a  chrystal  river  flows 
Pellucid,  welling  from  the  throne  of  God, 
Its  living  source,  upon  whose  border  springs  460 
The  tree  of  life,  bearing  ambrosial  fruits 
Monthly  renew-d,  and  varied  through  the  year, 
Food  for  immortals,  in  whose  balmy  gum 
And  leaves  medicinal,  a  virtue  dwells 
So  general  and  potential,  that  no  pain 
Or  ailment  but  here  finds  its  ready  cure  : 
No  tear  shall  wet  this  consecrated  soil, 
Nor  feud,  nor  clamor,  nor  unholy  curse 
Disturb  these  peaceful  echoes  *,  here  the  saints 
In  sweet  harmonious  brotherhood  shall  dwell, 
Serene  and  perfect  in  the  sight  of  God. 
And  hark  !  I  hear  seraphic  voices  c  haunt 
To  their  melodious  harps  the  bridal  hymn — 
Now  is  our  God  espoused  to  his  Church, 
And  from  their  heav'nly  union  are  gone  forth. 
Blessing  and  peace  and  joy  to  all  mankind  j 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         265 

Now  shall  his  saints  eternal  Sabbath  keep 
From  death,  and  pain,  and  wailing,  and  com* 

plaint. 
All  is  made  new.. .the  oldispass'd  away... 
Time  draws  aside  the  faded  scene  of  things, 
And  Nature  in  immortal  freshness  blooms. 
Now  to  the  waters  of  the  fount  of  life, 
Perpetual  waters,  every  soul  may  come, 
And  he  that  is  athirst  may  freely  drink : 
But  fire  and  brimstone  in  the  burning  lake 
Shall  be  their  portion,  who  revolt  from  God  ; 
There  with  the  Beast  in  torments  they  shall 

dwell, 
ScaPd  in  their  foreheads  with  his  mark,and  drink 
The  cup  of  indignation  to  the  dregs 
Wrung  out  in  anger,  whilst  their  ceaseless  cry 
Shall  with  the  smoke  of  the  infernal  pit 
Day  after  day  for  evermore  ascend." 

No  more  ;  for  now  the  heav'nly  vision  clos'd  ; 
Awaken'd  from  his  trance,  the  Patriarch  turn'd 
With  grateful  reverence  to  address  the  Lord 
And  Giver  of  these  new-discover'djoys, 
When  lo  !  ascending  from  the  mount,  he  saw 
Christ  in  a  cloud  of  glory  on  the  wings 
Of  mighty  cherubim  upborne  in  air, 
High-soaring,  to  this  orb  terraqueous  bound,  500 
Seen  over-head  diminish'd  to  a  point 
Dim  and  opaque  amid  the  blue  serene  ; 


£68  CALVARY;  OR,        [book  vm. 

His  raiment  whiter  than  the  new-horn  light, 
Struck  out  of  chaos  by  the  Maker's  hand 
In  earnest  of  creation,  sparkling  blaz'd 
In  its  swift  motion,  and  with  fiery  track 
Mark'd  his  ascent  to  earth  ;  the  host  of  saints 
With  joyful  loud  hosannas  fill'd  the  air: 
"  Glory  to  God  on  high,"  was  all  their  strain, 
"  On  the  earth  peace,  good  will  to  all  mankind  !" 

Meanwhile  the  arch-angel  Gabriel,  who  yet 
kept 
His  tutelary  station  on  the  mount,  [Voice 

So  bidd'n  of  Christ,  with  arm  out-stretch'd,  and 
Commanding  silence,  thus  the  saints  bespake  : 

"  Now  is  your  resurrection  sure. ..your  joy, 
Your  glory,  and  your  triumph  over  death 
And  hell  made  perfect;  for  behold  where  Christ 
YTour  first-fruit  now  is  ris'n,  and  waves  on  high 
The  ensign  of  redemption  :  Now  he  soars 
Up  to  yon  pendent  world,  that  darkling  speck? 
Which  in  the  boundless  empyrean  floats 
Poised  on  its  whirling  axle  ;  there  he  liv'd 
And  took  your  mortal  body.. ..there  he  died, 
And  for  your  sakes  endur'd  the  painful  cross. 
Giving  his  blood  a  ransom  for  your  sins  ; 
Thither  he  goes  to  re-assume  his  flesh  ; 
There,  when  his  angel  ministers  have  op'd 
The  seal'd  sepulchre,  he  shall  come  forth 
And  shew  biujself  resurgent  from  the  grave 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  267 

To  those  whom  he  hath  sanctified  and  call'd 
To  be  his  witnesses  in  all  the  world, 
Add  of  his  resurrection  after  death 
Their  faithful  evidence  to  seal  with  blood 
Of  martyrs  and  apostles,  warning  men 
With  their  last  breath  to  be  baptiz'd  and  live  ; 
So  shall  the  seed  be  water'd  and  increase, 
Till  all  the  Gentile  nations  shall  come  in 
And  dwell  beneath  its  branches  evermore. 
Now  are  the  gates  of  everlasting  life 
Set  open  to  mankind,  and  when  the  Lord,    540 
Captain  of  their  salvation,  shall  have  liv'd 
His  promis'd  term  on  earth,  and  thence  toheav'ii 
Ascending  seat  himself  at  God's  right  hand, 
Then  shall  the  Holy  Ghost,  the  Comforter, 
Rush  like  a  mighty  wind  upon  the  hearts 
Of  his  inspir'd  apostles  ;  tongues  of  fire 
And  languages  untaught  they  shall  receive 
To  speak  with  boldness  the  revealed  word, 
Enduring  all  things  for  the  gospel's  sake  ; 
Troubled  on  every  side,  }*et  not  distressed...  550 
Perplex'd,  but  not  surrender'd  to  despair... 
Afflicted,  not  forsaken,  they  shall  be... 
Cast  down  but  not  destroy'd,  knowing  that  God$ 
Who  rais'd  the  Lord  Jesus  from  the  dead^ 
Them  also  into  life  through  him  will  raise, 
And  that  the  light  affliction  of  this  world, 
Which  is  but  for  a  moment,  soon  shall  be 


268  CALVARY;  OR,         [book  Yin. 

O'erpaid  by  afar  more  exceeding  weight 
Of  joys  eternal  in  the  life  to  come." 

He  ceas'd,  and  all  were  silent  wrapt  in  awe 
Of  the  iate  glorious  vision,  yet  in  heart 
Troubled  for  what  the  angel  had  reveal'd 
Of  sorrows  still  to  come,  and  pains  and  deaths 
To  be  encounter'd  by  the  saints  on  earth  ; 
When  now  that  Shepherd,  who  on  Sinai's  mount 
Cbmmun'd  with  God  and  heard  creation's  plan 
Expounded  by  its  Architect,  thus  spake  : 

"  Oh  thou,  whom   through  the  fiery    cloud  I 

saw 
On  Horeb's  hill,  when  tending  Jethro's  flock, 
What  time  I  heard  my  name  twice  call'd  of  God 
In  thunder  from  amidst  the  flaming  bush, 
Bidding  me  strait  go  forth  to  loose  his  sheep 
From  Egypt's  captive  fold,  1  do  perceive 
That  I  have  penn'd  the  word  of  God  aright, 
And  now  in  Christ  behold  the  woman's  seed 
Bruising  that  Serpeut's  head,  who  wrought  the 

fall 
Of  our  first  parents.     Forty  days  and  nights 
On  Sinai's  top,  midst  thund'rings,  clouds  and  fire 
F;.-iing  T  stood,  and  whilst  the  hallowed  ground 
Trembled  beneath  my  bare  unsandal'd  feet,  580 
I  heard  an  awful  voice  that  bade  me  write 
The  glorious  record  of  his  six  days'  work. 
Agbast,  confounded,  dazzled  with  the  blaze 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.  269 

Of  glory,  still  my  faithful  pen  obey'd 
The  sacred  dictates  of  an  unseen  God  : 
I  wrote,  and  to  an  unbelieving  world 
Publish'd  the  wond'rous  Code  ;  age  after  age 
Libell'd  the  transcript  :  With  the  rod  of  pow'r 
I  smote  the  seas  asunder  ;  Israel  pass'd 
Through  wat'ry  battlements  ;  forty  long  years 
In  the  waste  howling  wilderness  I  fed 
Their  murmuring  tribes  with  food  miraculous  ; 
They  fed,  but  murmur'd  still  :  I  brought  them 

laws 
With  God's  own  finger  graven  ;  I  came  down 
Bearing  Jehovah's  statutes  in  my  hand 
On  both  sides  written  ;  impious  noisy  shouts, 
Lewd  triumphs,  and  vile  revels  smote  mine  ear  ; 
The  people  danc'd  around  a  molten  calf... 
Monstrous  idolatry  !  Raging  with  shame 
I  dash'd  the  stony  tablets  on  the  ground,      600 
And   shiver'd   them  to  fragments  :  God   was 

mock'd  ; 
A  stiff-neck'd  and  a  stubborn  race  they  were, 
Who  from  the  rock  of  their  salvation  turn'd, 
And  sacrific'd  to  devils  ;  and  behold  ! 
Their  sons  have  crucified  the  Lord  of  Life  ; 
Therefore  his  resurrection,  which  shall  be 
Light  and  redemption  to  the  Gentile  world, 
To  them  is  darkness  and  the  shadow  of  death  ; 
For  they  have  slain  the  very  Paschal  Lamb  ; 


270  CALVARY;  OH,        [bookviii. 

That  bloody  symbol  of  their  antient  law,      610 
Which  I  made  sacred,  they  have  now  made  void, 
And  cancelled  my  legation  :  1  perceive 
A  new  commandment  is  gone  forth  ;  I  see 
The  temple's  vail  is  rent  ;  for  the  old  law, 
A  carnal  shadow  of  things  spiritual, 
Suflic'd  not  for  perfection  and  the  pow'r 
Of  an  eternal  life  :   Christ  is  become 
That  King  of  Salem,  that  immortal  Priest 
Of  God  most  high,  whose  ministry  supreme, 
Before  all  time  from  heav'n  itself  deriv'd,    620 
And  not  from  right  Levitical,  removes 
All  title  from  that  consecrated  tribe, 
"Where  I  had  lix'd  it.     God,  who  sending  me, 
Sent  but  his  servant,  now  hath  giv'n  his  son 
More  worthy  of  his  glory  ;  without  sin  [passed 
And    spotless  He,   the  great  High  Priest,  hath 
Into  the  heav'ns,   victorious  over  Death  ; 
But  I,  whose  trespasses  at  Meribah, 
Frail,  sinful  man,  provok'd  the  Lord  to  wrath, 
Saw  but  the  skirts  of  Dan  from  Pisgah's  top,  630 
Unworthy  deeiii'd  to  enter  that  fair  land, 
And  died  upon  mount  Ncbo.     But  when  Christ, 
Who  hath  awaken'd  us  from  sleep,  shall  rise 
And  in  his  mortal  flesh  a  second  time 
Visit  his  saints  on  earth,  who  then  shall  say 
There  is  no  resurrection  of  the  dead  ? 
Faintly  I  shadow'd  forth  a  future  life  $ 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         271 

I  spake  not  to  men's  senses,  as  Christ  speaks  $ 
God  gave  me  no  commission  to  reveal 
The  secrets  of  the  grave  ;  corruption's  worm 
Spar'd  not  my  flesh,  nor  came  my  spirit  back 
From  Death's  dark  citadel,  to  give  mankind 
Conviction  occular  of  his  defeat  ; 
I  left  him  in  his  power  till  Christ  should  come 
To  break  that  sceptre,  which  had  aw'd  the  world. 
3Iuch  then  it  moves  my  wonder,  much  I  grieve 
That  darkness  shall  not  yet  be  drawn  aside 
From  Israel,  and  that  those,  who  would  not  hear 
Me  and  the  prophets,  shall  not  yet  believe 
Christ  their  Messias  rising  from  the  dead." 
To  whom  th'  Arch-angel  answer'd,  heav'nly 
mild  :  [should  doubt, 

;i  Well  may'st  thou  muse  that  reas'ning  man 
And  cause  we  have  to  grieve,  when  he  neglects 
So    great    salvation  ;  but   when    Christ    hath 

shewn 
What  is  the  good  and  true  and  perfect  way, 
Reason  must  do  the  rest  :   When  all  are  free 
Some  must  be  faithless,  wilful  and  perverse. 
God  could  have  made  his  creatures  void  of  sin, 
For  he  can  put  a  master  in  their  hearts, 
And  govern  them  by  instinct ;  but  to  man  6(i0 
He  gave  a  nobler  faculty,  a  will... 
A  spark  of  immortality.. .a  soul, 
Reason  to  counsel  that  immortal  soul, 


272  CALVARY;  OR,        [bookviii. 

And  conscience  to  restrain  licentious  will. 
Grace  shall  assist  the  humble  and  devout ; 
A  proud  man  hath  no  friend  in  heav'n  or  earth, 
Renounc'd  of  angels,  and  by  men  abhorr'd  : 
Truth  must  be  sought.. .it  will  not  be  impos'd  : 
What  were  that  revelation,  which  should  leave 
~No  exercise  to  faith  ?  All  men  must  work  670 
With  fear  and  trembling  their  salvation  out. 
God  does  not  give  free  will  to  take  away 
What  he  hath  giv'n  ;  if  man  will  sin,  he  must : 
Nor  do  we  call  them  good,  who  cannot  err, 
Else  brutes  would  claim  a  virtue.     None  is  good 
Save  God  alone  ;  impute  we  not  to  God 
The  evil  which  man  does,  nor  him  arraign 
For  not  preventing  ills  which  he  foreknows  : 
Angels  have   sinn'd,  and  some  are  fall'n  from 

bliss  ; 
All  had  their  days  of  error,  their  degrees     680 
Of  good  and  ill,  else  why  have  we  degrees, 
Ranks  and  precedencies  of  bliss  in  heav'n  ? 
Call  your  own  lives  to  mind  ;  ye  have  been  men5 
Your  failings  many,  yet  your  virtues  more  ; 
Why  are  ye  now  rewarded  by  your  God  ? 
Why  but  because  those  virtues  were  your  own  ? 
Ye  made  them  what  they  were — ye  rcar'd  their 

growth. 
Reason  reform*d  the  wild  luxuriant  soil,  [fruit. 
Rluck'd  up  the  weeds,  and  nurs'd  the  glorious 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHRIST.         ^73 

Is  there  amongst  you  one  that  hath  to  boast 
Human  perfection  ?  There  is  none  that  will. 
A  free,  yet  faultless  creature,  would  be  more 
Than  man,  than  angel :  nor  can  God  create 
An  equal  to  himself... a  rival  God. 
In  Eden's  happy  groves  when  man  was  plac'd, 
One  interdicted,  baneful  plant  there  was, 
Tempting  and  rich  in  fruit ;  all  else  was  good, 
Fair  to  the  eye  and  wholesome  to  the  taste  ; 
Yet  of  that  fruit  man  pluck'd,  and  eat,  and  died ; 
Tempted  he  was,  but  not  compell'd  to  take  ;  700 
Warn'd  to  abstain,  no  angel  stopp'd  his  hand, 
No  thund'ring  voice  deterr'd  him  from  the  deed, 
For  man  was  free  ;  so  could  he  not  have  been, 
Had  God's  foreknowledge  over-rul'd  his  will. 
Thus  Sin  had  origin,  and  Death  began 
His  occupation  with  the  human  race, 
More  terrible  for  that  he  came  with  pangs, 
Horrors,  and  doubts  on  sin-oppressed  man, 
When  conscience  wrung  him  in  the  partinghour. 
But  still  the  inextinguishable  soul  710 

Mock'd  at  Death's  dart.. ..the  body  was  his  own 
From  the  beginning  ;  of  the  earth  'twas  made... 
The  earth  it  till'd,  and  from  the  earth  it  fed  ; 
A  tenement  of  dust  was  never  forin'd 
For  immortality  :  and  now,  behold, 
Adam,  the  earthly  man,  in  whom  all  die, 
Is  buried  to  the  world  ;  redemption  brings 

M2 


274  CALVARY;  OR,        [bookviu. 

The  day-spring  of  Salvation  from  on  high, 

Christ  in  his  glory  comes, the  Lord  from  heav'n, 

And  who  in  him  have  faith,  in  him  have  life." 

He  ceas"d,when  nowth'  assembly  of  the  saints, 

AVho,  whilst  he  spake,  stood  in   their  orhs  un- 

mov'd 
Circling  the  mount,  'gan  to  feel  theSp'ritof  God 

Descending  on  their  hearts,  and,  like  a  sea 

IV,  secret  currents  from  its  hottom  stirr'd, 

"NVav'd  to  and  fro  their  undulating  flies 

AVide  and  more  wide,  as  with  a  mighty  wind 

The  heav'nly  inspiration  on  them  rush'd  : 

This  Gabriel,  heard,  and  from  the  mount  came 

down, 
Which  quak'd  beneath  his  feet,  whilst  over-head 
Loud  thund'rings  announced  the  coining  God  : 
And  now  a  fire,  that  cover'd  all  the  mount, 
Bespoke  him  present ;  all  the  air  respir'd 
Ambrosial  odours,  amaranth  and  rose, 
For  Nature  felt  her  God,  and  every  flower 
And  every  fragrant  shrub,  whose  honied  breath 
Perfumes  the  courts  of  heav'n,  had  hurst  to  life 
Blooming,  and,  in  a  thousand  colours  dy'd, 
Threw  their  gay  mantle  o'er  the  naked  heath. 
Now  glow'd  the  living  landscape  ;  hill  and  dale 
Itosc  on  the  flat,  or  sunk  as  Nature  shap'd 
Her  loveliest  forms  and  sv,  ell'd  her  wavy  line, 
Leaving  unrein'd  variety  to  run 
Her  wild  career  amid  the  sportive  scene  : 


THE  DEATH  OF  CHE  1ST.         275 

Nor  were  there  wanting  trees  of  ever}'  growth, 
Umbrageous  some,  making  a  verdant  tent 
Under  their  spreading  branches,  some  of  shaft 
Majestic,  tow'i  ing  o'er  the  subject  groves  : 
Blossoms  and  fruits  and  aromatic  gums  [leaves; 
Scented  the   breeze  that   fann'd   their  rustling 
And  them  betwixt  a  chrystal  river  flow'd 
O'er  golden  sands,  meand'ring  in  its  course 
Through  amaranthine  banks,  with  lulling  sound 
Of  dulcet  murmurs,  breathing  soft  repose. 

Thus  at  the  sight  of  God  spontaneous  rose 
A  Paradise  within  the  realm  of  Death, 
Where  that  blest  congregation  might  abide 
Their  Lord's  return,  now  visitant  on  earth  : 
And  now  th'  Eternal  having  breath'd  his  joy 
Into  their  hearts,  and  giv'n  them  to  discern  760 
All  knowledge,  that  befitted  souls  so  blest. 
Withdrew  his  presence  from  the  flaming  mount; 
Whereat  the  min*st'ring  Angel  who  beheld 
Salvation's  work  complete,  thus  parting  spake  : 

;*  God,  in  whose  presence  pleasure  ever  dwells, 
Hath  for  your  dear  Redeemer's  sake  bestow *d 
These  joys,  and  now  his  presence  is  withdrawn  ; 
Yet  hath  he  left  his  spirit  in  your  hearts, 
To  teach  you  all  that  is  and  is  to  be  : 
ISehcld,  the  cloud  that  veil'd  your  mortal  eyes 
Is  drawn  aside,  and  what  as  in  a  glass 
Darkling  ye  saw,  now  face  to  face  is  seen  : 
Ye  now  discern  the  ways  of  God  how  just, 


870  CALVARY;  $c.         [bookviii. 

How  true,  how  wise,  how  perfect  in  design, 
And  well  ye  know  that  man,  presumptous  man. 
In  a  vain  shadow  walketh  ;  ye  perceive 
His  boasted  mind  sufficient  for  the  things, 
That  to  his  own  salvation  appertain  ; 
Yet  when  it  scans  the  mysteries  of  heaven, 
How  false,  how  weak,  how  daringly  absurd  !  780 
Firm  faith,  warm  charity,  and  humble  hope, 
These  are  the  Christian  graces  ..these  the  guides 
That  lead  to  life  eternal  ;  thoughts  perverse, 
Pert  quibbling  follies,  published  in  the  pride 
Of  false  philosophy,  are  dev'lish  arts, 
That  damn  the  instrument,  who  thus  attempts 
To  hide  the  light  of  revelation's  beam 
From  weaker  eyes,  and  turn  the  world  from  God  : 
These  verily  shall  have  their  just  reward  : 
And  now  no  more  ;  this  Paradise  ye  see      790 
Is  but  your  passage  to  a  brighter  scene — 
A  resting-place  till  Christ  shall  re-ascend 
To  the  right  hand  of  God,  and  call  you  hence 
To  share  his  glory  in  the  heav'n  of  heavens." 

He  said,  and  swifter  than  the  meteor's  glance, 
Sprung  on  the  wing  to  seek  his  native  sphere  : 
The  Saints  look'd  up.  then  sung  with  joint  acclaim, 
"  Glory  to  God,  and  praises  to  his  Christ, 
Judge  and  Redeemer  of  the  quick  and  dead  I" 


END   OF  THE  POEM. 


yw  ■    mp 


•  «k 


